Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-12-03
THE SUCCESSION.
Probable Political Eject of Mr.. Hendricks
Death.
Washington special.


There is no constitutional or statutory provis-
| ion for the succession to the Presidency should
| the disability of President Cleveland occur.
There is no President pro tenn of the Senate and
| there is no Speaker of the House OF Representa-
| tives, and neither branch OF Congress is in
| session. Several efforts have been made of
| late years to make some provision for such an
| exigency as now exists, and always with
| out success, because the exigency seemed
| remote, and therefore Senators and Con-
gressmen would give no attention to the
matter, the situation was such that any
| provision that could be made would give an adj
| vantage to one political party that the other
| would not consent to. Tho House is not a con-
| tinuing body so that for nine months in every
| alternate year there is no Speaker But the
Senate is a continuing body, and 1t might always
| have substitute presiding officer ON hand In
| former years good deal Of care was taken TO
have President pro tenn. in existence but this
| provision for the future is wholly in the hands
| of the Vice President, and the last two Vice
| Presidents have neglected or refused to al
| low the Senate the opportunity OF electing
substitute. IL was formerly regarded as obliga-
| tory on new Vice President to absent himself
| from the Senate one day, so that the Senate
could have chance to elect but 1t was very
J generally remarked on that in the special ses-
| sion of the Senate i'm the spring of 1881 Vice
| President Arthur occupied his seat every day
| and gave the Senate no chance to elect. At the
| special session of the Senate last spring the
| same thing occurred. The Vice President occu-
| pied the chair every day. and when the
| Senate adjourned there was no President
pro tenn; The propriety OF allowing the
was suggested TO Mr.. Hendricks, but he
referred to the precedent established by Mr..
Arthur, and followed Il. When the Senate
meets, IL will be called to order by Gen. Nc
Cook, the Secretary, and the first question
| will be whether a President pro tenn. shall be
elected first, or whether the senior Senator pres
ent shall administer the oath Of Office to the two
Senators-elect, Gen. Logan, Of Illinois, and Mr..
Mitchell of Oregon. 1t Is entirely iInmaterial
which is done first, for the Republicans will have
forty Senators and the Democrats only thirty
four At the special session Of the Senate after
the death OF President Garfield the Democrats
insisted on first electing the presiding officer,
and they carried their point and elected Mr..
Bayard who Immediately administered tho
oath of Office to the Senators-elect. Thereupon
the Republicans acquired a majority, and the
next day elected Senator David Davis President
pro tenn. The presiding officer so chosen will
have the right OF succession to the Presidency
in case OF Mr.. Cleveland's death untfl special
election can be had. Who will be elected Pres
ident pro tenn. is already a subject Of gossip.
Mr. Edmunds will expect IL because he has had
the Office last and 20 elect some one else would
be considered as o slight TO him,