The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-10


I regret to state that the people of Alaska
have reason to comp ain that they are a. yet
unprovdcd with any form OF government by
which life or property can be protected.
While the extent of its population does not
justify the application Of the costly m1chin.
cry OF territorial administration, there is i'm
mediate necessity for constituting such Il
form of government AS Will promote the ed
UcBtiOn of the people and secure the admin
istration of justice.
The Senate at its last session passed n bill
providing for the construction of building
for the Library OF Congress, but il failed to
become law. The provision of such able
protection for this great collection of books
and for the department connect
ed with il has become an object of national
importance and should receive prompt at
tentiOn.
The rcnort of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia, herewith transmitted, Will
inform you fully of the condition OF the eff
forts of the Comm iSS'OncrS. The vital inn
pOrance of legiSlatiO on for the r'clamatiOn
of the marshes and for the establishment
of the harbOr lines along the Potomac Rtv-
er front is set forth. 1t is represented that
in their present condition these marshes Sc
riOusly affect the health of the residents of
the adjacent purt OF the city, and that they
greatly mar the general aspect OF the park in
which stands the Washington mOnume nt.
THIS Improvement would add to that park
and the park south OF the Executive Mansion,
"A large area of valuable land, and would
transform what is now believed to be II dan.
gcrOus nuisance into an ATTRACTIVE land
scapc extending tn the river front They
recommend the removal of the steam
railway lines from the surface of the streets
of the city and the location of the necessary
depots in such places as may be convenient
for the public accommodation, They call at
tcntiOn to the deficiency of the water supply
which seriously affects the material prosper.
ity of the city and the health and comfort oil
its inhabitants. | commend these subjects to
your favorable consideration.
The importance of timely legislation with
respect to the rs 'ertainment and declaration
of the vote for the Presidential Electors was
Nlxrg n1 M N nnnlla
more than four wears ago 1t il to be hoped
that some well defined measure may be de.
vlsed before another national election, which
will render unnecessary resort 20 any eX'
pedient OF a temporary character for the de-
termination of questions upon contested re-
turns.
Questions which concern the very exist.
ence of the Government and the liberties OF
the people were suggested by the prolonged
illness of the late President ana his conse-
quent incapacity to perform the functions OF
his office. 1t il provided by the second art
Gle of the Constitution, in the fifth clause OF
its first section, that in case of the removal oil
the President from office, or of his death
resignation or ability to discharge the
powers and duties of said office, the same
shall deVOlVe on the Vice President.
What is the intention of the Constitution in its
specification of "inabiity" TO discharge the
powers and duties of said officer, or of the
contingencies which call the Vice. President
to the exercise of Presidential functionsi
Is th@ inability delegated in its nature TO long
continued intellectual incapacity or mas 1t 2
! broader import: What must De lus extent an
| duration? How must its existence be estap
! lished? Has the President whose inability Is
the subject of inquiry any voice in determin
| ing whether or not it exists? Or is the decis
| ion of that momentous and delicate question
| confined to the Vice President? Or is it con
| templated by the Constitution that Congress
| should provide by law precisely wha
should constitute inability, and how
and by what tribunal or authority 4
| should be ascertained? If the inability
| proves to be temporary in its nature-an(
| IA Vice BTgSl0Gn
| lawfully exercises the functions of the Exec
utive, by what tenure does he hold his office
| Does he continue as Presidentfor the remain
| der of the four years term, or would IN
elected President, If his inability should ceas
| in the interval, be empowered to resume hi
office, and if having such lawful authority HI
| should exercise It, would the Vice Presiden
| be hereupon empowered to resume his pow
| nrs and dnfins rs snch2 cnn't doubt TIM