Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-27
AT WASHING TON.
~Ex-Supreme Jastfce Strong en- tn
Presfdeb tiaI succession.

Jastfce Strong en- the
Presfdeb tial succession.
WASHINGTON, November 26.-Ex-Justice
Strong of the Supreme Court said: SIT is
customary at the close of the session of
the Senate for the Vice-President to leave
the chair and permit the election of a
President pro tempore in order that there
might be a successor of the President in
case of the sudden death of both the Pres
ident and Vice.President. Mr.. Hendricks,
l understand, declined to permit the cleo
ton OF a President pro tempoTe of the
Senate, hence that body is now without a
presiding officer, and if Mr.. Cleveland
should also die before the meeting of
Congress the country would be without a
head and a most difficult problem would
be offered for solution. A constitutional
amendment is not necessary, but a Con-
gressionsl enactment ia certainly needed,
and under the circumstances will probably
be adopted by the incoming Congress in
vesting the Presidential succession, in the
case of death of President, Vice-President
and Speaker of the House, in the Secre-
tary OF State until an election could be
held. In that contingency the Secretary
of State would be legally only acting Pres
ident, although by courtesy he would be
of the Vice-President, sPresident pro tenn
pore, or Speaker of the House In case of
the succession falling upon them.
JUSTICE MILLER's OPINION.
Justice Miller, Of the United States Su-
preme Court, in speaking of the Presiden-
tial succession, last night, said: "If Mr..
Edmunds had been elected President pro
tempore of the Senate at the recent extra
session of that body, he would now be the
constitutional sor to the Presidency
in case of the death of Mr.. Cleveland dur
ing his term of off &c, though the enure of
Office of the President pro tempore can be
terminated at will by the vote of the Sem
ate"
do you think that the sudden death of
the Vice-Presioe nt will give rise to a con-
stitutional amendment defining more
clearly the status of the President pro tenn
| pore of the Senate"
"No; it is not needed. The President
pro tempore holds Office until the return
of the Nice-President, or until the Senate
elects his successor; nor is his tenure of
Office limited to a single session, for the
Senate is a body in perpetu, not expiring
by limitation. as does the House of Rep
resentatives."
DRAPING HI PUBLIC BUILDINGs
The work of draping the various public
buildings with mourning emblems was
begun to-day, but on account of the holi-
| day, and the stores all being closed, and
the consequent impossibility Of obtaining
the mourning goods, very little progress
was made. The drapipg Of the White
House, Interior, State, War and Navy De-
partment buildings is nearly completed.
For the same reason, probably, very few
| Of the stores or private residences in the
city are decorated.
The flags sll over the city loated at half
| mast all day. At the Treasury Department
| kilograms poured in all day from the Gus
todians of public buildings throughout
| the country asking to be authorized to
| drape the buildings under their charge
| with emblems of mourning. Telegraphic
| authorization to do go vas sent in about
sixty cases. The Sergeant-at-Arms of the
| Senate this afternoon received a telegram
| from the Hon. VIM. 81. English saving
| that the funeral of the dead Vice-Presi-
dent would take place Tuesday next at IL
| o'clock.