The Hartford herald., 1885-12-09
Washington Letter.

k,inoT Herdid'
The Capitol, White House, and Ex-
ecutive Departments are draped in
mourning again, and the national flag
upon all the Government buildings
floats AT half mast.
When the President was informed by
telephone of the death of Nice-Pre j
dent Hendricks, he was going down to
dinner. He seemed greatly shocked,
and showed a hesitance in believing the
sad news. Then he sent for Col. La
mont, aud in short time the Cabinet
officers were Fastening to the White
House with serious and anxious faces,
summoned 10y Mr.. Cleveland.
The Cabinet remained in session Tor
Two hours aud half The Commits
sioner of public buildings was sent for,
and ordered to have all public buildings
draped with emblems of mourning rs
soon a possible. The Cabinet took ac-
cided to attend it in body. with the
President
Mr.. Cleveland would have no sue
cessor if he should die before the date
of the meeting of congress. Under the
constitutional provision two lives inter
pose between those ofthe President aud
Nice-President, and vacancy. The
statute provides: In case of removal,
death, resignation or inability of both
the President and Vice-President, then
the President of the Senate, or if there
Is none, the Speaker of the House shall
act as President until the disability Is
removed or a President elected.
AT present there is no President of
the Senate and no Speaker of the House
and those officers cannot be elected un-
Ill Congress meets Should vacancy
occur i'm the meantime the Government
would he carried on by the Cabinet un-
Ill President of the Senate or Speak
er is elected, as il was during President
Garfield's inability.
Congress has done nothing to avoid
such situation as has now arisen. A
bill providing for different succession
to the Presidency was introduced last
winter. Ii provided, when the offices
of the President and Nice-P President
Were both made vacant 10y death, that
the succession should pass first To the
Secretary of State, and then To the 9TH
er Cabinet officers in the line of their
rank. Such "A measure would keep the
power with the administration which
the people elected. This bill will prob
ably be re-introduced early in the new
session and pushed for passage. 1t
would guard against possible Rerubli-
can succession to President Cleveland,
should anything happen to him.
II is not thought that the death of the
Nice-President can have any disturbing
effect upon National politics, although
of course the majority in the Senate
will elect Republican to succeed him.
That will naturally give rise to feel
ing of uncertainty for the reason that
the death of Mr.. Cleveland would
change the political complexion of the
Administration.
The effect of Mr.. Hendricks death
will be felt in Washington society. The
White House will be closed against fes-
tivities for some time, such as State re-
ceptions and dinners. The Cabinet of-
ficers will also be prevented temporarily
from entertaining.
When the Senate meets it will prob
ably be called to order by its oldest
member. This is Senator Morrill,, of
Vermont. Then the majority will pro-
ceed to elect presiding officer, who
will be either Logan, Sherman, Hoar,
ingalls,, or Edmunds Which will it be?
is IA question much discussed lust now.