The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-18
THE MEXICAN MISSION.
DIR. Ransom VIII DOUBTLESS RE-
FUND THE SALARY And EAPENSES.
rinc Point, of Law which Have Grown
out oftbc Arpointment-h pe'i'io"
MAY Affect the Sugar Bounties'

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-THE opinion
OF Acting Attorney-General Conrao '""'
Minister Rarscm was disqualiheu 'oi"
appointment to the Mexican mission De-
cause OF the consti,utional PROVISIONS
relating 20 tho appointment OF Se"@'o
AID REPRESENTATIVES 70 civil ohlces' '"e
efnoiurents of which were receives u, ut
ING the term for which they were ,l'St-''
vas based on the question whether an
appointment dated from the unle on ..y',
inatlon or from the time the cominlssio"
was signed. ,. ..oso mo
Actiur Attoruev-General laid down the
rule that the appointment OF a ClFu V.t-
Ger i'm tho Federal service dates rom hia
confirmation by the senate MNi.H
construed TO mean the compleuo. ot 81"
appointment according 20 the 'ol0t.tt'
ton Mr. Ransom was nomlhd'cn r.
ruary yd last. before his term ol vi,''
as "A Senator had ended. but his coIhlnl--
sion WAS not signed by the ffcsld5i.t ~ tt,t
March 5th, the day after ne eelsc" 4" 49,,
the senatorial position. There - Hv.,,...s
in the commission. however, 20 si.o"
when Il was signed IL bears the uA.e
Of February 23i. and apparently ieit 10
loop-hole 10 decide that Mr. hahsci, =
appointment was unconstitutional on tu'
ground that HIS senatorial term sha4 ~
pirel before the Presidents signature
was actually attached 90 the commission
wusN WAS he AproiNgfDf
The Constitution provides that The
President shall nominate ara. ~ anu
with the atvicc and cons INT OF me sen
are. shall appoint ambassadors exc. IL
is understood that the Acting Attorney
General construed the conseht or con-
nee ion Of the senate 20 be tho consimna-
ton Of Mr. Ransom's appo ntmsnt' tru
that a. this took place before tne 'e,i I'M
for which he was elected expired, ms
ASSUMPTION Of Office was CONTRARY 10 tne
Constitutions Mr. Adee. the Acting Sccfe-
tarv Of State declined 10 say shythnS
about the Ransom isceion. He was ASK
el II the orluiCn Of the Acting Attornej-
General would be given cut by the STA p
Department and would he prefer 90 let
Mr.. Olney. who Is IN Nassachusctls; AT p
swcr the question Of that class IL Is
possible that the text OF thc proposition
win be made public as soon as a copy
OF 10 can reach Ar. Ransom al Neiaon'
g. g.
The Trcaavy Department records show
that ex-senator Ransom mas drawn IN
salary and exposes as Minister TO
Mexico about $500. Of which Slzi2 was
received NO 90 June lst The last pay
mout made 20 him was on juno Z2d for
81 400 which included his May salary
Now that .he LEGAL phase Of the case
has been settled adversely 10 Mr. Ran
som. Auditor Holcomb, who Is responsi-
bic for an moneys wrongiuily paid
through his office, viii. following his
usual custom. I'm case Mr. Ransom Is rf-
appointed. withhold his salary until the
Accumulation equals the amount wron-
fully paid him. This Is only Of course.
ln case Mr. Ransom does not straigntcn
out the matt,r BY returning all the
money heretofore paid him, and ap-
peal to Congress for the payment Of
tho salary thus returned.
The decision of Solicitcr-Gcnoral Con-
rad en- the Ransom case. while not yet
Officially announced goes even further j.
is said. than the usre declaration that
Sir. IRA nsom was disqualified Inc dental
ly 30 touches upon the powers OF the
Auditor of the Treasury ana ComptrOller
20 hold rp accounts when the Law Is
constitutional. and inforentially II not Do
words. inclines 70 support the position
taken boy Comptroller Bowler. I'm the sugar
bounty claims.