Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-02
nation by Mr.. Wallace, of PENNSYLVANIA,
and seconded by Mr.. Waller, of Connect
rs NO FRCE-PRESEDEN
The Senate Fails to Eject Pro Tenn. PreSi-
dRnf-LnpRn,A GhanCHA.

The Senate Fails to Eject a Pro Tenn. Presi-
dent-Logan's Chances.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 26.-The
death of Vice President Hendricks created
a profound sensation at the national cap
ital hardly less than that which followed
the assassination Of President Garfield or
the demise OF Gen. Grant. The community
had retired to their homes and were dining
with their families when the sad news was
received and was at once borne on the wings
OF the wind to every quarter of the city.
Instantly people of all degrees rushed to
the telegraph offices, hotels and
places OF public resort to ascer-
tain the particulars, and the lobby at
Wizards became crowded with ex-
cited citizens, officials and politicians, eager
~ discussing the affair and specializing upon
the possible effect which the death of the
Vlce-President might exercise upon national
affairs. The ultra or. extreme element OF
the Democracy, with which Mr.. Hendricks
was universally popular, manifested deep
feeling at the event, which not only de-
prived them of the political services of SO
trusty friend and counselor but disturbed
all plans and calculations concerning
possible tie in the Senate two years hence,
which would, by the casting vote of the
President, give the control of that body to
the Democracy during the two last years Of
President Cleveland's administration.
As matters now stand, it is but repeti
ton of the condition which existed when
Vice-President Wilson died November IL,
1875, just ten years and four days ago.
Congress was not in session, the Forty
fourth assembling on the first Monday in
December, 1875, and hence there was
neither president pro tempore Of the Senate
nor speaker of the House, and only the life
Of the then President, Gen. Grant, inter
posed against nation without head.
There is now therefore the one life of Presi-
dent Cleveland similarly intervening. Con-
gress has repeatedly considered bills pro-
viding for the presidential succession in like
cases but none have become laws. Senator
Hoar vainly endeav ored to secure the pas
sage of his bill at the last Congress, and like
wise Congressman Eaton in the House,
but no agreement was reached. 1t will
be remembered that prior to the adjourn
ment of the special session of the Senate
last March an effort was made at the clos
ing hours to elect president pro tenn, but
it was defeated by the action of Vice-Presi-
dent Hendricks, who hastily adjourned the
body before the Republican majority could
select Mr.. Edmunds. When Congress con-
venes the Senate will proceed at once to
elect president pro tenn. and the chances
favor the selection of Gen. Logan, who will
become acting vice-president, although de-
feated for the vice-presidency at the last
election.
Secretary Bayard, last night, spoke very
feelingly of the Vice-President and greatly
regretted that under existing laws such a crit
ical state of affairs was possible. SHOULD
anything happen to the President, said he,
there would be no one legally authorized to
succeed him." He thought it was owing to
the peculiarly constructed rules OF the
House of Representatives that the pres-
Dental succession bill passed by the Senate
last winter was crowded out. The House
is being very severely criticised for it's fail
ure to pass this measure, and this fact will
undoubtedly have considerable weight in
influencing revision of the rules.
Gen. Logan, in his new house on the out
skirts of the city, failed to receive the news
until after 8 o'clock, when Gen. Green B.
Raum conveyed to him the first intelligence.
Shortly afterwards a procession of CORE
spondents found their way up the steep &C.
clivity to the generals mansion. To one and
all OF them Gen. Logan declines to express
an opinion other that in his Judgment it
was the duty of the President to call the Sen
ate together in extra session without an
hours unnecessary delay to elect presi-
dent pro tenn. and ex officio vice-president
"SUch an emergency as this" he
said 'has never before occurred in
have no president Of the Senate, no speaker
OF the House. There is but one life between
the government and anarchy. In the
twelve days that intervene before Congress
ASSEMBLIES who can tell what may happen?"
Whom do you think ought to be elected
president of the Senator" inquired one cor
respondent. THAT is a question you
should not ask of me" the General replied;
and in further conversation some of the
Generals friends expressed emphatically
their opinions that Senator Logan should
under no circumstances be candidate.