The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-18
TO BE REAPPOINTED
MIR. RANSOM WILL CONTINUE To ACT
as MINISTER TO MEXICO.
He VIII Soon Return to His Post nnd
the President VIII Send His Name
to the Senate Again.

WASHINGTON, Aug. lit is understood
that, aside from the inconvenience which
Will be occasioned to Minister Ransom by
the failure to receive his salary promptly
and the necessity for his reappointment,
there will be no other complication at
tached to the decision which has been rem
dered by the Solicitor-general that, under
the Constitution, Mr.. Ransom's appoint
ment was irregular because made during
his term as Senator. Mr.. Ransom has un-
derstood for six weeks that the Solicitor
generals decision would be against him,
and while he was forewarned to this effect,
he was notified at the same time that
soon as practical after the decision should
be rendered he would be reappointed. 1t
was this knowledge OF the effect of the
decision which has caused Mr.. Ransom to
remain in this country as long as he has,
but the assurance of his reappointment
has been made so plain that he has made
all preparations to return TO Mexico towards
the close of the present month. The pro-
vision of the Constitution under which the
Treasury refused to audit and allow his
account will not apply to a reappointment
and there will be no further difficulty in the
matter. The Minister'S accounts were regu-
larly allowed up TO the list of July SO that
at present the government is indebted to
him only for his salary fees, July 10 to the
present time. 1t is not -oubted in any quar-
ter that Congress will afford him relief in
this respect through appropriation in the
first urgent deficiency bill which becomes a
law after the beginning next season.
At the time Of Mr.. Ransom's appointment
a question was raised and fully exploited
in the press at the time as 10 whether or
not his appointment was regular and at
that time the opinion was expressed at the
White House that his case did not come
within the legal prohibition and that even
IL it should be SO held the Presidents
right to reappo.nt him after Congress ad-
journed was clear and indisputable.
1t is expected that the President will, in
a few days, issue a commission to Mr.. KAN
som to serve as minister to Mexico during
the recess of Congress- which commission
will rup until the Senate shall have acted
on Mr.. Ransoms nomina ton, which will be
sent in early in December. Until Mr.. RAN
som receives this recess appointment the
capital of Mexico by Mr.. Butler, who was
regularly designated and recognized as
charge d'affaires at the time of Mr.. Ran
SONS departure for home a few months
ago. Although the opinion of the Depart
ment of Justice in regard to Mr.. Ransoms
case bears the signature of Solicitor-gen-
erai Conrad, 1T is understood that the opin-
ion was approved as sound by Attorney
general Harmon and Secretary Oiney before
it was officially rendered. ATTORNEY. general
Harmons recent visit TO the President at
Gray Gables is believed to have relation
to this case, and it is said that 1T was then
concluded that the best way out of the
legal tangle was the issue of an entirely
new commission to air. Ransom.