The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1895-04-19
STRANGE OVERSIGHT.
Does Minister Ransom Hold His once Ille-
EAliyf-Appsrently the President Had No
Right to Appoint Him.

EAilyf-Appsrsntl the President Had No
Right to Appoint Him.
WASHINGTON, April l6-The Mexican
mission Is vacant This will be news
TO ex-senator Ransom. who has Just
settled himself comfortably in berth
In the pleasant confidence that he Is
TO draw si7.S00 . year out OF the
United States treasury. II will be
news TO the president who ap-
pointed him, and probably to his old
associates In the senate, who so gallan-
ly sprang 10 the rescue and confirmed
his nomination almost rs soon as II
was sent In.
The trouble Ia that the president had
no right TO appoint Senator Ransom at
all. There happens to be a clause in
the constitution Of the United States
which reads as follows;
Article |, Section Q, Clause 2. No
senator or representative 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 emol-
uments whereof thall have been In
creased during such time"
The salary Of the minister 10 Mexico
was increased from $4,000 year 10
si7, 500 by provision in the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill, which
was passed In the second session OF the
Fifty-first congress. Senator Ransom
was then in the middle Of the six
years term which expired March (,
1928, and he was, OF course, not eligi-
BILE at the time his nomination was
sent In during the preceding week.
The little incident concerning the
salary Of the Mexican minister had
been forgotten by most Of those who
originally knew about II, and the mat
ter Of salary cut no figure In the case.
The worst Of the matter Is the fact
that Senator Ransom was actually
present In the senate when the bill
carrying an increase OF salary for the
Mexican mission was agreed 10, and
made no objection 10 its passage.
There was no roll call, and the confer
enee report on the bill was adopted by
4 viva yoce vote In the closing hours Of
the congress-
What makes the case especially hard
is the fact that, II the government OH.
ciRls refuse to pass his accounts on con
stltutionAl grounds, there will be nc
redress II th!s Is done, the president
will doubtless endeavor 10 repair the
mistake by reappointing Mr.. Ransom
az once, but, unfortunately, this will
not do Senator Ransom much good
Section 1901 Of the revised statutes, ap
proved February Q, 1898, provides that
mo money shall be paid from th'
treasury as salary TO persons appointed
during the recess Of the senate TO al
vacancy In any existing Office II tn,
vacancy existed while the senate wa
In session. and was by law 10 be filleC
by and with the advice and consent o
the senate, until such appointeo hA
been confirmed by the senate"
Judge William H. Lawrence, 70
many years the Arst controller Of tn
treasury, and now practicing befor
the supreme court said Tuesday tina
II the case were 10 come before him n
controller he should certainly disallov
the salary. He said that not TO do 8
would be plain violation Of the lnten
Of the constitution. State department
officials privately admit the same thing
although they do not relish the ide
Of opening the question up