The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-05
REMOVAL O. A CONSUL'S BODY
The State Department Authorized to
Use the Necessary Funds

Use the Necessary Funds.
The family Of Alexander r. Mckee. lat,
United States Consul at Pa mama. who
died in that city in September 1865. has
been trying ever since his death TO have
the Government bring his body home for
burial The matter was recently again
brought TO the attention of the State De
partment. and, for the purpose Of asccr-
tanning the costs incident to the removal
here Of the remains. the Secretary Of
State addressed the following letter 10
Robert J. TraceweH, Comptroller Of the
Treasury:
Il enclose copy Of a letter from Logan
Mckee, esq. requesting the department
10 take steps 10 bring TO the United States
Tor interment the remains Of Alexander
X. Mckee, who died at Panama, Colon
bia. in September. 1868. while occupying
the position Of Consul of the United
States at that place
i should be glad to have an expires
sion OF your opinion upon the question
whether the expenses Of transportation to
the United States and burial Of the re-
mains Of the late Consul Mckee would be
a proper charge against the current dip
lomatic and consular appropriation
which contains a clause similar to that
embodied in the act Of February q, 1896.
referred 10 in the enclosed letter"
In his answer Mr. TraceweH saws.
The appropriation contained in the act
Of March 2, 1891, TO which reference IS
made. is as follows:
Defraylng the expenses Of TRANSPORTING
u remains OF diplomatic and consular
oI;ctIS OF the United States including
consular clerks who have died OF NAV die
ABROAD Cr 10 transit. while in the dis
re. Of hi
former homes in this country for inter
ment, and for ordinary and necessary ex-
PtAses OF such interment at their post or
AT home, 5000
Appropriations similar in terms
IhouEh not quite so broad in their Ian
SLaEt. have been annually made since
10" The earlier acts provided for trans
porting the remains Of ministers and CON
suls who have died or NAV die abroad
- their homes FOR interment. later acts
included consular clerks In their pr0-
visions ana provided for the ordinary and
necessary expenses Of interment- the act
OF 1879 added the words in transit and
the current act provides for the first time.
Tor expenses Of interm,n Mt at their post
CIT AT nome All the acts. however con-
5a!h the words who have died or NAV
ole abroad IN the discharge Of their Off
0l..i uu'.'s' or words Of similar import
assuming that Consul Mckee died
abroad IT, the discharge Of his official du-
Ties, and that the expenses OF his inter
HlehI al ms post have not been borne b,-
tle. Hlttu states. the only question for
decision Is whether the aDurarrIa q ~,
made IN the act Of March 3 1901 is avail
&b.e 10 meet the expenses Of the transp0r-
iauon Of his remains and their burial ar
ms FORMER home In this country.
i can see nothing in the act under
consideration or In the provisions Of sec
uoH 900 OF the Revised Statutes. limit
ing me availability Of annual appropria-
llDlLS, "Hlch IprpldS such use Of the au-
preparation provided YOU approve the same
ana the funds Of the appropriation are
&l-gudle 10 meet the expenses. Section
o'5' units the availability OF annual auprO-
p'latlons 10 the payment Of EXPENSES
properly incurred during the years for
Nhlch thy are made. hence Il IS clear thar
the time when the expenses Of traUsuorta-
non ana lnteTment are incurred and not
the time Of death Of the officer aI,ro-,5 a.
the controlling feature Of the case when
considered in reference 10 that section -