The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-01-11
PRESIDENTIAL sUcoEssloN.
The Discussion of the Subject In the
Senate

The Discussion of the Subject In the
Senate.
WASHINGTON, d. g., Jan AT two
O'Clock the presidential succt ssion bill
came up as unfinished business in the
senate.
Garland, advocating the bill, said the
objection TO the present hybrid system
created by the law of 1892 had been
strikingly illustrated at the time of
President Garfisld's death, and after the
fourth Of March next, unless congress
should legislate upon the subject in the
meantime, the life of the president
would be the only one standing be-
tween the United States and anarchy.
On the other hand, one advantage of the
system proposed by the bill was that il
deYolved the duties of the president in
such cases upon the secretary of state.
No interior man was ever nominated
for that Office. Under tine existing law
the president of the senate would be-
come acting president. This provision
rendered the character of the admins
tration Yery uncertain. For instance,
when the senate met after the death of
Garfield, the senator from Delaware,
Bayard, was chosen president OF the
senate, and if he had become presi-
dent of the United States, the chief
OltlCc HOutA nave DGSu
by amembeF of The party defeated al
the polls But, as if by magic, Bayard
was deposed and the senator from Illi-
noIs Davis was put in his place. That
distinguished senator, belonging To no
party, but walking in lane Of his own
above all parties, cerulean, elheTial. or
what not II he had heen called to the
presidency by the death of President
Arthur, what verdict of the people
would have approved him on his
"paVtYs"
Garland, in The course Of his remarks,
expressed the opinion that the presi
dents term of Office ought 10 be six
years.
Morgan moved an amendment 10 pro-
vide that the officer succeeding to the
acting presidency shall hold the office
until the presidents disability is re-
moved or until the vacancy is otherwise
lawfully filed, instead of until the regu
lar term, as provided in the bill.
Edmunds moved the bill be recon,
mitted to the committee on judiciary
with instructions to report as soon as
may be a bill to provide for and
regulate the duties of the president
OF the United States, by the
president of the senate and the
speaker of the house of representa-
tives respectively, in case of vacancy in
both the offices of president and vice
president of the United States, and for
the administration of the duties of the
Office of president of The United States in
cases in which there shall be al the time
being neither president of the senate
| pro tenn nor a speaker of the house of
representatives.
Edmunds said the motion presented
| clearly the alternatives of either per-
| fecting the system devised by our faith
| ers, or departing entirely from that sys-
tenn, as proposed by the pending bill.
Blair offered an amendment provid
ing that the cabinet officers, named in
succession. instead of acting as presi-
dent in the cases contemplated in the
| bill, shall so act only until congress can
come together and provide by law fol
| filling the presidency.
| Jones, of Florida, offered An amend
ment providing that no cabinet officer
shall succeed to the acting presidency
who would not be eligible for election
| as president.
Without acting upon these amend
| ments the senate went into executive
session, aud soon after adjourned.