United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Langston, 118 U.S. 389 (1886)

United States v. Langston

Submitted April 26, 1886

Decided May 10, 1886

118 U.S. 389

Syllabus

A statute which fixes the annual salary of a public officer at a designated sum without limitation as to time is not abrogated or suspended by subsequent enactments appropriating a less amount for his services for a particular fiscal year but containing no words which expressly or impliedly modify or repeal it.

United States v. Fisher, 109 U. S. 143, and United States v. Mitchell, 109 U. S. 146, distinguished.

This was a petition in the Court of Claims to recover an unpaid balance of salary claimed to be due defendant in error as Minister Resident at Hayti. The defense was that Congress, by appropriating a lesser sum, had indicated its purpose to reduce the salary. The case is stated in the opinion of the Court. Judgment below in favor of the plaintiff, from which the defendant appealed.

Page 118 U. S. 390