The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-17
RANSOM OUT OF OFFICE
HIS HTSiPPOINTWENTENCEEDED con-
STTTTTIONAL LIMITATION.
However, There IL No Bar to President
CleveIand's Eeappointing Him-Mr'
Ransom in bad Health.

Ransom, OF North Carolina, IL 40 longer
Minister srom the United States TO
Mexico. That office was practically de-
ciau d vacant to-day by decision rem
dercd by MIR. Holmes Conrad, Solicitor
Gen, raj OF the United States, and Acting
Attorney-General. Mr tansom's incum-
bency was declared TO be contrary TO the
Fejs.al Constitution. and Acting Attor-
ney-tienerat sustained the action OF Mr.
Thomas Hopkins Auditor OF the Treas
ury FOR the state Department IN dechn-
ing 20 pass fay0rably upon Mr HANSON
for salary and expenses.
The decision OF the Acting Attorney.
General was based on a question raised
by Auditor Hoicomb rs TO the legality
OF Mr.. Kansoms appointment 10 TIE
Mexican mission.
I'm view of the existence OF section :,
Article g. of the Constitution, which de-
clares that no senator or representa-
tive shall, during the time Tor which ne
was elected, be appointed 20 any clNli
office under the authority Of the United
States. which shall have been created or
the cmOluments whereof snail have beeh
increased during such time -.
This provision apparently lifted the case
OF Mr. Ransom. for he was nonlhate1
by President cleveland. and confirmed
by the Senate. before his term OF once
as senator from North Carolina ha1 eN-
pired, and during that term the saltiS
of the Mexican mission had been tneteaS-
HIS LoNG SENATORIAL SERVICE.
Mr.. Ransom was elected TO the Senate
in 1872. and served continuously from
Anru gith. OF that year. until February
.. 1885. when his nomination TO me
Mexican mission was sent 20 the senate
and Immediately confirmed by that bois,
and until the 4th OF March, Wneh ms
term expired. and his commission as
Minister TO Mexico was signed Dy INC
President.
lie was a member Of the senate when
the diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill was passed, which contained a pro-
vision raising the post OF Minister y
Mexico from misSon OF IN. s''orI
class TO a mission OF the iirst class anu
increasing the salary of the Qtice ifon
Sl250o 10 Si7.5o0 a year. Ii H. due 70 Nr.
Ransom's occupancy Of seat In the
Senate chamber that he Is to-day Win
out an Office, and that ne Is tecnhchiN
a debtor TO the Government for the
amount OF salary he has drawn since
assuming his diplomatic post
Whether or not he voted I'm favor OF the
increase is OF no consequences me ! 10y
that he was a member OF the senate wh,n
IL passed the diplomatic and consular bill
as stated operated against Inn ~ hol1,
ing In legal manner any fedethl SNh
office which shall have Dcen created %
the emoluments whereof shali have beeh
Increased during the time for which ne
was elected senator
Soon after Mr. Ransoms appontm'S
TO the Mexican mission there was con-
siderable discussion In the newspapers
and public men. as TO whether his In
cumbency OF ;he Office was legal
HAD BEEN coSsTDEEEp.
The matter was considered Informally
bV the President and members OF the
Cabinet. but as 10 formal question was
raised hy any officer Of the Government
the status of Mr. Ransom was unimpaif-
SO far as ascertaipeG Mr. Ransom con-
unued 10 draw his salary OF Sll,to
year. but IL was only recently that ANdl-
tor liolcOmb. when he came 10 pass upo"
the accounts OF the Minister, found hihi-
self unable 10 decide whether he conll
approve the payment Of Mr. Ransom
salary. in view Of the lact that ne hal
been a member Of the Senate when II was
The matter was accordingly submitted
to the Attorn VEG neral for an oplh-
To-day the Acting Attorncy-G neral
also disposed oi another matter, IN WtSh
Mr.. Ransom VAS pccuniarily intereSt't'
Three months agO he .oturhei To ".
United states quite III, having optaine.
sixty days leave Of absence. lie sPrht
most Of the time recupHr1ung IN tne
North Carolina mOultains, and then OBJ
tined an additional leave Of thirty days.
Under the regulations Of the diplomatic
service. Mr.. Ransom was entitled to SHY
days annual leave and 10 thhty GAYS
81 leave additional, total OF ninety
DAYS There Is no provision FOR tur-
ther extension FOR any reason and dpfO-
matic and consular officers VINO nave eN-
coedod this quota have not received pay
for the period they remained away nom
their posts
Mr Ransoms ninety days are nearly
up and last week he came 70 Washington
10 ascertain II his continued III he1ltn
would secure for him further extension
That question was not disposed OF. and
there Is now 40 necessity for an ophloh
on IT, in Mr.. Ransom's case. a. Least. as
the Acting Att0rnay-GeneraPs decision
disposes of everything relating - DIS
emoiumcnts.
n DECLINING HEALrH
Mr. Ransom succeeded Hon. Isaac. y
Gray. Ex-Governor Of Indiana, Who had
died Il short time before.
After visit 10 North Carolina. re-
turning 20 Washington 10 receive ~
stru. ions. Mr. Ransom left here FOR the
civ of Mexico on March 5oth. -,
Re arrived at his destination quite III
The high altitude OF the Mexican capital
had affected his p art and acce itlatel
trouble frcm which he had been sur
feHng for many yers
Mr. Ransom was ill most Of tho tine
he was iI Mexico. and he was advised By
his hysician 20 return 20 the United
states for treatment and reslDerauon.
Following this counsel he came 10
North Carolina in May, ana has hscn NJ
"A health resort in that state ana az has
home. ln Weldon. m 'st of the time since.
lie rs now at Weldon while IN Wash
inrtrn last week the Minister paid sew
erai visits 10 the state DepartW'nt WIN
reference - the question raised by Au-
ditor HolComb
LIST bfore returning 20 North caro-.
Ira. he SAID his health had improved
sufficiently 20 permit him 10 20 back 10
the CITY of Mexico In about q month.
The constitutional provision thr' lel
which Mr. Ransom has been deprived vt
Office does not bar him from being re-
apnointed 10 the Mexican mission
re- could have been aDpGif ted wltfr1t
violation Of the laN or Constitution AZ
any a re after the hour ~ noon on Maroh
an mtt when his senatorial term h'd
expired. ~,
IN Is believed Presidfnt Cleveland viii.
upon being Officially notihe1 of the con.
di,ion Of affairs Immediately reaupoint
MIR Ransom 10 the office 20 which nearly
every senator united ~ asking that he
be appointed.