Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-17
UOn. Matt ". Ransom Practically Declared
Out Of 0iico.
HE MAY NE REArPoINTED'
II Is believed That lie VIII ne-
Technically ON which
ua,c Their Action Discussed AZ
Time of Appointments.


derod by Mir. Holmes 'oii'"' ,.,,..
General Of the United states an" 1,0''"e
A,,o7nev- General. Mr.. Ransom 'i'o"''-
hercv was declared 20 be contrary " INC
r,oa.-al Constitution. and the Ac'ins Az
-. General sustained the action OF
A. rrhonas Hopkins. Auditor OF the
,rroos,,r,, for the state Department. In
,ocl,ring 10 pass favorably upon MT.
pa,eo,n.s vouchers for salary and ex-
penses.
THO decision OF the Acting Attorney
General was based on question raised
by Auditor Holccmbe as 10 the legai'y
OF Mr.. Ransom's appointment to the
Mexican mission. In view OF the existence
81 section .. article 0. Of the Constitution
which declares that no Senator or Rep
resentatiye shall. during the time for
which he was elected. be appointed 10
any civil Office under the authority OF the
United States. which shall have been
created or the emoluments whereof shall
have been increased during such time.
This provision apparently fitted the case
81 Mr. Ransom for he was nominated DN
president Cleveland and confirmed by the
senate before his term Of Office as sena-
TOR from North Carolina had expired,
and during that term the salary OF the
Mexican mission had been increased S5'VD
a year.
THE RECORD.
Mr.. Ransom was elected TO the Senate
FL 1872 and served continuously from April
oath Of that year until February g 100
when his nomination TO the Mexican mis-
sion was sent 70 the Senate and -
diately confirmed by that body. and untl
the 4th Of March, when his term expired
and his commission as Minister 10 Mexico
was signed by the President.
lie was a member of the Senate when
the diplomatic and consular appropria-
ton bill was passed. which contained
provision raising the post Of Minister TO
Mexico from a mission OF the seconu
class to n mission Of the first class ana
increasing the salary Of the Office from
1880 10 1880 a year.
II Is due to Mr.. Ransom's occupancy OF
n scat I'm the Senate chamber mat ne Is
TODAY without en- office. and That ne Is
technically a debtor to the government
for the amount Of salary ne has drawn
since assuming his diplomatic post
Whether or not he voted in favor OF
the increase IS of no consequence; the
fact that he was a member OF the sen
ate when It passed the diplomatic ana
consular bill. as stated, operated against
his holding i'm a legal manner any Fede-
ral civil office (which was created or the
emoluments whereof were increased du-
ring the time for which he was elected
senator. .
soon after Mr.. Ransom's appointment
70 the Mexican mission there was con-
siderable discussion In the newspapers
and among public men as 70 whe'ner ms
,ncurohcncy Of the office was legal Inc
matter was considered informally by the
president and members Of the Cabinet
hut as no formal question was raised by
any officer Of the government the status
OF SIR. Ransom was unimpaired.
SALARY MATTER.
c, far as ascertained Mr. Ransom con-
,inue5 10 draw his salary of $1,000 year.
out It was only recently that Audltor
Holcombe. when he came TO pass upon tIe
accounts Of the Minister. found himsei
unable 10 decide whether he could approve
the pavment of Mr. Ransom's salary. IN
view of the fact that he had been mem
her Of the Senate when ii was increased
The matter was accordingly submitted 10
tho Attorney-General for an opinion.
To-day the Acting Attorney-General also
disoosad Of another matter in which MT.
Ransom was pecuniarily interested. Three
months ago he returned TO the United
states quite III. having obtained Sixty
DAYS leave or ADrflNfs III 0if'iiN i''N'N
the time recuperatlng In the North caro-
Una mountains. and then obtained an ad-
dltional leave Of thirty days.
Under the regulations Of the diplomatic
service Mr.. Ransom was entitled 10 sixty
davs' annual leave and to thirty days
sick leave additional, n total Of ninety
lavs. There is no provision for a further
extension for any reason, and diplomatic
ana consular officers who have eNceeied
for q
3,r.od they remained away from their
posts.
Mr. Ranson's ninety days are nearly up,
tr4 last week he came 10 Washington TO
ascertain II his continued ill-health would
SECURE for him a further extension, with
nlv That question was not disposed OF,
EuI there Is now no necessity for an opin-
iQn GA 70. IN Mr.. Ransom's case, at least
1s fte Acting Attorney-Generals decision
.rc-es Of everything relating 10 MS
monuments.
EXPERIENCE IN MEXICO.
Mr Ransom succeeded Hon. Isaac p.
Gray Ex-Governor Of Indiana, who had
died short time before. After visit
30 North Carolina, returning 10 Wash
.ngt0n 20 receive instructions. Mr.. Ran
som left here for the City of Mexico on
March 10Th. lie arrived al his destina-
Mexican capital had affected his heart
ana accentuated trouble from which ne
had been suffering for many years.
Mr. Ransom was III most OF the time
he was In Mexico, and he was advised
by his physicians to return to the United
states for treatment and recuperation
Following this counsel. he came 10 North
Carolina in May, and has been at a
health-resort IN that State and at his
home In Weldon, most OF the time since.
Ne is now az Weldon. While I'm Wash
ington last week the Minister paid seve-
raj visits % the State Department with
reference 10 the question raised by Au-
ditor iiolcombe just before returning
- North Carolina ne said his health had
improved sufficiently TO permit him to
80 back 70 the City Of Mexico In about a
month
MAY DE REAPPOINTED.
The Constitutional provision. through
which Mr. Ransom has been deprived OF
Office does not bar him from being re-
appointed 20 the Mexican mission.
lie could have been appointed without
violation Of the law or Constitution at
any time after the hour Of noon on
March iih last. when his senatorial term
expired
IL is believed President Cleveland will,
lIti i'lIE tllIidHs HtAit'' VI viz WI
dition Of AFFAIRS, Immediately reappoint
Mr Ransom 20 the office TO which nearly
every senator united In asking that he
be appointed.
MEXICO SATISFIED.
CITY OF MEXICO. August i6.-United
States Minister Ransom's denial that he
has made statements 70 a reporter re-
fleeing on Mexican officials in connection
with the extradition treaty Is considered
&c