The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-16
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION,
OArlSSdI Reply to BssES Sps'sh-Ths Qus'tIOn
a. to WhsR Pr'IidsatiAl Inability Arises IAd
n to Who Is to b0 the IudgS = The
Proposed Plan Of Succession.

WASHINGTON, December l5.-In the Sen
ate to-day Mr., Sherman, from the Commit
tee on Finance, reported favorably witt
amendments, the bill to provide for The
issue Of three per cent bonds. Mr. Sher
man will ask its consideration Immediately
after the holidays,
Mr., Ingalls, introduced q resolution in
structing the Committee on Pensions TO In
quire and report what increase Of pension,
II any, should be allowed the widow Of
Abraham Lincoln, Adopted,
The subjects referred to in the Presidents
message were referred to appropriate COM
mittees,
A resolution for Woman Suffrage Com
mittee came up, but the morning hour OK.
pired without action upon It,
The discussion Of Presidential success.
ion in the contingencies provided for, was
resumed, and Mr.. Garland addressed the
Senate.
His answer to the objections OF the Sem
ator from Kentucky (Mr. Beck that Cabi.
net officers, to whom the lineof succession
Is given by his bill, might DO ineligible as
not possessing Presidential qualifications,
was that the requirement that such officers
should have these qualifications could be
added to the bill. Also, q provision to
meet possible case Of Cabinet implCat-
ed as paricepS criminiS with an impeaChed
President lie disagreed with that SEN
atora as to the propriety OF yesting proyis'
sional succession In the Judges OF the Su.
preme COurt,as the Presidential duties were
beyond question such asrequired an exeCu.
tive rather than judicial or Legislative Of
ilCer. Succession should descend In that
line which was indicated by the verdict at
the quadrennial election. As to when
Presidential inability arises, or as to who
Is to determine that Inability, he said that
Congress isunable to determine; and the
only means for the determination Of that
question would be constitutional amend.
ment. The clause OF the constitution
simply gives 10 Congress the right 10 say
what officer shall net, and neither In that
oranywhere else Is 1t empowered 10 pass
upon inability. Tho truth is, 1t was in.
tended to be left TO the President and Vice
President, us matter to be settled between
them.
II Vice-President Arthur had been in
full accord with President Garfield, did
any one doubt he would have been called
on TO act In the latter's stead within ten
days after the President was shot, because
It was then generally known, notwithstand.
ing the dispatches that went out from
Washington to the contrary, that the
President would not survive. ] suppose
the idea OF the inability OF the President
became generally entertained by the COun-
try, and that upon being waited on and in.
formed OF the popular belief he denied
there was any ground for 1t, and held on to
his Office How could the remedy be M.
plied2 There was no remedy, for behind
The President was the military 10 support
his claim.
There was no means for deciding what
constituted inability, rs tho Constltu.
tional provision WIS intended 10 bO self.
sustaining without any intervention by
Congress with the coordinate branch OF
the government. Various instances Of in.
ability might be suggested, one Of which
was the absence Of the President Nt the
head OF the army, in which case the Vice
President would Got. The measure he had
proposed, vestlng succession in Execu-
tive officers, In contradistinction with
legislative and judicial officers Of the
although open to objections
hat had not yet been suggested, was the
best he could conceive OF.
Mr.. Coke urged thatit was the duty icon.
gress to provide promptly foravoldlng com.
piCations, and Mr.. Jones, OF Florida,
advocated an amendment to Mr.. lIeCk's
resolution so as to provide for the inquiry,
whether any additional provision Of the
law or changes in the power Of the Con.
stltution are necessary to secure stability
in the Office Of President pro TEN Of the
Senate when the Vice President becomes
President ofthe United States In theContin-
gencies provided for. Pending further re.
marks on the subject the Senate went into
Executive Session.