Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-08-12
SOME PROBLEMS OF GOVERNMENT.

The events of the month past have ex-
posed somc weak roiuts in our system Of
Government, and have raised several grave
questions which ought and no doubt will
be carefully considered by the next Con-
gress and some definite action taken TO
bridge over the cl,ssm for the future.
Happily, with the promised recovery of the
President, we shall not experience the evils
and dangers which are inherent in these
unsettled problems. We may not be so
fortunate in the future il the weak points
are further neglected. Now that we had
such narrow escape and that attention
has been directed to the subject, il will be
imprudent TO neglect longer to provide for
any like emergency that may arise. And
first OF al we must understand the prob
lens which nre to he solved, some of which
are very pointedly brought to notice by
the Philadelphia Press, MS follows:
/. What shall be the order of succession
to the Presidency? The listing law ranges
the order through three officers-the Vice
President, the President pro tenn. OF the
Senate, and the Speaker of-the House. 1t
was supposed that this would be adequate
to any exigency but the present situation
shows that it is not. Two OF the offices are
not filed at all. III the Vice President
were now to become President and any caias.
trophe should beiall him, there would then
be no one to take the place. True, II he were
called to the Presidency, he would doubt.
less Immediately summon Congress, and
President pro tenn. of the Senate and Speak
er OF the House would be chosen. But so
vital n matter as the unbroken maintenance
of Executive authority should never be
left to chance. The whole question must
now come under review, nni when il does
it will present various phases. Should
the presiding officers of the two Houses of
Congress be in the order of succession at
Mt all? II so, what should be done to
guard against such vacancies as now exist ?
Or should the succession, after the Vice
President, be from the executive, instead of
the legislative branch, taking the members
of the Cabinet according TO their rank 7
The whole law should be carefully revised
III. Shall Congress meet at an earlier pc
riod? If the present law for filling Presi-
dental vacancies is to remain, then cer-
tainly Congress ought to meet as soon rs
its term begins. The Senate is a contnu-
ous body, and ordinarily 1t has n President
pro tenn. The present situation when il
has none is exceptional. But the Speaker
of the House is next in the order of sue
cession, and, except in the rare case OF an
extra session, there is II period of nine
months every two years when there is no
Speaker. The old House goes ont in March
and the new House does not meet till De-
cember. Ii the Speaker is to be AN officer
upon whom the Presidency may devolve
in contingency, then Congress should
meet in March in order that there may be
no lapse. Possibly it might be well to
meet ut an earlier period OF it's term even
ii the law us to the succession of the Speak
er were changed. AS it is Congress does
not meet Tor more than year after its
election, and with SO long an interval, the
public expression loses much of its force.
III. What shall be done with the Vice
President? 1t is conceded on all sides
that his Office ought to be vested with more
dignity and authority. Except in the rare
contingency of his succession TO the Presi-
dency, he is mere tigure-head. He pre-
sides over the Senate without having any
voice in its deliberations or any power over
its action, except in the case of lie. He
is elected as the associate and possible sue
cessor of the President without having any
part in the Administration. AS the result
of this denial in all participation, lie Ire
quently drifts into opposition to the Pres
ident and comes to represent different ten
denotes and purposes. 1t is admitted that
something should be done to give the
Vice President more distinct and posi-
tive place in our system. How shall it be
accomplished Shall he be empowered tt
share in the discussion and action OF the
Senate? But he is more naturally Wt
properly connected with the Executiv,
branch. Shall he be treated as II member
of the Cabinet and be given seat at tn,
Cabinet table without a portfolio? Som,
such solution seems feasible and wise.
~. How shall the constitutional disa
bility of the President be determined? n,
such question is presented by this presen
condition, but the time may come when i
will require an answer. The Constitution
provides that in the event of the inabilit,
of the President to perform his duties, the,
| shall deyolve upon the Vice President. /
| says nothing more on the subject. No Law
supplements and completes it. What thei
constitutes the disability here meant
Who shall determine it? 1t plainly doe
not mean mere sickness or physical pros
tration. On the contrary, it refers TO some
thing which affects the qualification o
the President to perform his duties, an,
leaves il uncertain for the future. 1t re
fers to such a case as insanity or paralysis
| The President himself can not determin
when it exists; the Vice President ough
not TO decide the question; and it is clea
that some tribunal should be designate,
with the power OF deciding when such II,
exigency has come.
These are some OF the problems to b
solved. Congress should take them up Il
is next session in the broadest and mos
statesmanlike spirit.