New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-12
WORK FOR THE TICE-PRESIpENT.

~
The tragedy ut Washington directs prblic at
tention TO defect in the Constitution which
thoughtful men have always perceived. We
refer to the failure Of that instrument TO as
sign duties and responsibilities for the Vice
President commensurate with the dignity Of
his position, and to bring him into close rcl.-
tons with the President as an important factor
in the executive machinery of the Government
The only function prescribed for this official is
specified in Article Section 3, of the ConsttiI-
ton, in these words: The Vice President Of
"tho United States shall be President Of tho
"Scnatc, bat shall have no vote unless they be
"cqually divdcd' BY it's rules and traditions
the Senate has SC Curtalcd the powers of its
presiding officer that he is little more than an
automa.on, To announce tie reading of bills and
put motions i'll accordance with set forms. He
cannot, like the Speaker of the House. leave
the chair 70 express his views on subjects under
debate nor can he, like that official exercise IN
influence upon legislation by appointing the
standing committees. An attempt on his part
even to enforce the rules 0rthe senate il REGARDED
a M impcrtincncc by the Senator's, who Tx, TO
transact business by coaItcs W. and DISREGARD
thc regulations they have made for Themselves
whenever it suits their convenience. In short.
hc is treated ~ an alien element thrust upon
The SENATE by tic Constitution 70 be lied III,
and hcdScl in a. much a. possible. The only
real Importance of the Office lie, in the posSi-
b.lity oi the incumbent succeeding 10 the Presi.
dcncy
The occupant of the Vice Presidency. if he
bc man OF fore Of character and sensitive
nature, feels hoculy the limitations and puspi-
cions which attach to it. He i, looked uuon IA
the possible beneficiary Of 4 calamitou, cnntin-
"cncy. The chance OF an event haDucning
which all men would regard rs unfortunate il
the only thing which gives him importance in
the public eye. He is waiting for an Office
which tine people never designed should come
to him, and which, if he be IL right minded man.
he earnestly hopes he may not Dc called uuon
20 fill. meanwhile ne chales under the circum-
stances III which lac is placed. The petty round
of routine duties prescribed for him become
odlous because he can do 80 constructive work
and cannot bring his talents, Judgment and
experience TO bean upon any question of lcpaia
ton OF administration. Like the late Vice
Presidents, Mr.. Wilson and Mr. Wheeler. he
may have spent Il lifetime in the public service
ana be accustomed to active efforts in the field
OF craftsmanship, but the youngest member Of
either branch of Congress has more Influence Mt
the White House and in the Capitol than he can
II
lie can neither speak nor vote, nor influence the
speech or votes Of others. And yet he was
elected by the same suiiragcs which put the
President i'll his char, and he represents. as
does no other man save the President, the cx-
pressed will of II majority of the American nco
pie.
Excluded from the councils at the Wb;to
House by custom, the second officer of tho
Government naturally drifts away from the
President III his personal relations, and accents
perforcc the unpleasant position of a Identified
do-nothing. He feels that Franklin Described
his Office admirably when in the Constitutional
Convention he proposed in jest to apply to it
the title Of I" His Most Suporluous nichncss -
1t is only human nature that he should regard
the acts and policy Of the President with close
If not unfriendly criticism, and should man ont
a different course for himself in case ne shorld
be called to the place of power. He has taken
no part in shaping the work of the adminstro-
ton why should he feel bound TO commend
it Why. without any intentional unfairness
should lie not think he could improve upon il
if he had a chance =?
1t would be easy enough to fit the Vice Prcs;
dent into the Administration or give him an
important place III the Senate. He might. for
example, be made q member of the Cabinet
without PORTFOLIO, aad thus be put in n position
10 act as an MD to the President Or he might
DO made full lneinher Of the Senate. with the