Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-27
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
The Political Question Raised by the
Vice Presidents Death-The Present
Law ON the Subject.

| question kaaSeO ~ the
| vice Presidents Death-The Present
Law ON the Subject.
| VIEWS OF VARIOUS PUBLIC MEN-REPREsENrA.
| TIVE SPRINGERs TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT
ON THE SUBJECT.
| Inc sudden death of Mr.. Hendricks was not
the same surprise to all of his close friends that
II was 70 the public His falling health has been
| noticeo since the 4th of March, and 1t was
reared oy many of his closer friends that he
wouio not prove physically strong enough for
the TASK the party would impose upon him in
| case OF q contest between the Senate and the
| administration. Within the past few months
| ne hao become quite deaf his physical condi-
uUa Was not good, and he experienced great
| oimcuity IN remembering names and faces.
| men generally, express deep regret at his death
duties
The death of the Vice President calls up
again Tor serious consideration the question of
pIovidfitng for the presidential succession in
vice PRESIDENT The failure OF the Hoar bill to
pass IN inc last Congress leaves the matter just
as ~ $1,000 wnen MI. Arthur succeeded to the
presidency: There is even q greater political
interest In the question to-day, as in the event
| Of the death of the President, republican
PRESIDENT pro tenn. of the Senate would become
the PRESIDENT until an election could be held.
THE PRESENT Law.
The sections OF the Revised Statutes bearing
| upon this subject are as follows:
Section h, l4S y; case Of removal death resignation
Of the United States the President Of the Senate Or
there Is none then the Speaker of the house Of
tdent until the disability is removed a President
Sec I47.-whenever the office of President and
Vice President both become vacant the Secretary Of
state 8 all forthwith cause notification thereof to
also Cause The same to be published in at least Of
the newspapers print ed in each tate.
Sec l4S-Tle notification shall
Of President and Vice President Of the United
Sites shall be appointed or chosen in the several
FrstIi there shall be the space of two months yet
to ensue between he date notification and the
first Wednesday In december then ensuing such
notification snail specify that the electors shall be up
! such first "Wednesday in December.
Of Se Of sSs
hIst wednesday In December and ii the term for
We're elected will not expire on the third day Of
March next ensuing, the notification shall specify
days p p sR the
GemSef r., IN me year next ehsuing But if there shall
SUCH notification aud the first Wednesday in Decem-
President and Vice President last in office were
elected will expire on the I'd day Of March next en-
suing the notification shall not specify that electors
| are TO be az. ointed or chosen.
THE COMING SENATE CAUCUS.
The republican Senators will hold a caucus
on Friday or Saturday of next week to select q
President pro tenlpore of the Senate. The gen.
eral impression Is Lnat there Will be q pretty
sharp fight for the nomination. The three
candidates will be Edmunds, Sherman, aud
Logan. MIR. Logan's friends are very anxious
to secure his selection for the place. which they
claim for him in consideration OF his recent de-
feat. Mr. Edmunds will not press his own
claim, but his friends will expect him to be
elected as q matter of course. 1t is thought
that the Irritating question raised during the
last campaign as to Edmunds' loyalty to the
party nominees will be brought up in the eau
Gus, and will arouse considerable feeling: Sem
ator Hoar, 1t is said, will oppose Edmunds, and
Will be a strong supporter of sherman. The
termined. Tie rivalry between sherman and
Logan will be particularly sharp, as the friends
OF each are backing him tor the republican
ment at this time for prestige in the conven-
ton. The feeling on both sides, 1t is thought,
VIII be SO great that neither can get the nom
1natOn of the caucus, and Edmunds will be
chosen. 1t will be made to appear, however,
that his choice is merely upon The grounds
that he made good presiding officer last ses-
Sion, and that it will not give HIM any prestige
In the future.
REPRESENTATIVE SPRINGER AND THE PREs1-
DENT
Representative Springer expressed the opin-
ion that Edmunds would be chosen as Presi-
dent pro tempore Logan, he thought, would
probably decline, as he would naturally feel a
delicacy about accepting position thus falling
for i. by the peepe The Situation en would be
very serious just now he said, ''should any.
thing happen to Mr.. Cleveland. Just last week
tentiOn In his message to the uncertainty con.
corning the succession to the Presidency and
Vice Presidency, and recommend the passage
of some act that would definitely settle the mat
ter. had quite long talk with him on the
subject, and ne was not quite sure whether he
would mention the subject or leave it to Con-
gress TO follow out the suggestions upon the
subject made by his predecessors"
"Do you think Congress will pass law of the
ayes; think the House will pass practically
the same bill which passed the Senate known
as the Hoar bilD, and expect the Senate will
agree to it, as they passed it unanimously last
Congress, and 1t is hardly likely that MIR. HOar
would let his party feeling appear to influence
him to change SO lar as to oppose his own bill"
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN SAYS THERE IS ONLY
ONE LIFE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND
CHAOS.
ut will impress upon Congress very forcibly
the necessity OF some action to regulate the
succession to the Presidency" said Representa-
tive Ryan (rep.), Of Kansas. at is very pecu-
liar situation. No Vice President, no President
pro tenn. ana no Speaker OF the House. Only
one life between the people and chaos. The re-
then there will be but one man between the
minority party and the power they desire. The
hand of the assassin has been impelled by less
temptation: II is an admOnition to Congress
not to neglect SO important a thing as the
question OF succession
SENATOR RANsoM's VIEWS.
Senator Ransom said to STAR reporter who
called upon him at the Metropolitan last even
Ing gill SIc&tly SrlcNeu. MT. hcuuTickS'
death is O shock to the country at large as well
Us to the party. He was man of the people.
de was liked In the south because he was one
OF the lew northern men who sympathi1ed
with the southern people, the north had CONT
dence In him and the west loved him because
he was their son. His death look upon as the
loss OF one OF the great men who cannot well be
spared, but DO not fear that 1t will cause any
disturbance OF the political situation Of course
Of one see the 1er
will he their choice. He is the ablest man they
have in the Senate"
WHAT SENATOR PUGH SAYS.
"The political situation is not so seriously COM
plicated," said Senator Pugh to STAR reporter
last evening. 1--WE feel the death of Mr.. Hen
bricks more from reasons that it will disturb
the political condition of affairs. The repub-
licans Will, Of course, elect a president pro tenn
pore OF the Senate-Mr. Edmunds, probably.
II anything should happen to President Cleve-
LAND before the Senate meets, 1t would be q
serious thing, of course. But his death would
not OF necessity put the government in the
hands OF the opposing party. The republican
President pro tempOre OF the Senate would
not become President OF the United States. He
would merely exercise the office of President in
perfunctOry Way until the Secretary of State
could call an election, and under no circum-
stances could he hold the Office more than
sixty days. He could not change the cabinet,
or In any way affect the order Of the executive
departments"
SENATOR CoN0ER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
SUBJECT.
1.-THE only thing To ba done now said Senator