Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-30


DAN ELEMENTS OF THE SUBJECT, ETC,
one effect of the death of Vice President
nehorlcks has been to awaken In the minds of
"e.noers OF Congress a realization of the i'm
porahce OF some law definitely providing for
VIC PRESIDENTIAL succession. Since the
memorable contest of 1870 this subject has re-
ceived attention in Congress. and though the
Importance Of such an enactment has been
conceoeo, nothing has been done. Even when
Tue democrats had control of both houses OF
Co"sress they neglected to enact o law of this
k1no. committees have been created in both
n houses and given jurisdiction of this subject,
atoms haHeg mas come of it. Partisan consider
neeueo legislation. For most of the time dur.
l ing Inc last few years the two houses of Con-
And this has operated to prevent legislation
aennltely providing for the succession to Office
IN the event OF the death or disability of both
PRESIDENT and Vice President
AFTER THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD.
and when Mr.. Arthur assumed the presidential
ONCE, Inc country was left in the same condi-
ton as at present Then there was neither
PRESIDENT pro tempore of the Senate nor Speaker
OF tne House, and the possibility OF Mr. Arthur's
withstanding the apprehension that existed
nothlng was done to provide for regular con-
tinuance of governmental machinery in the
rulers: Now the question again forces itself
upon the attention of Senators and Representa-
t ives, ana 1t will most probably be presented in
congress early during the coming session.
THE PARTISAN ELEMENT OF THE SUBJECT
will, perhaps, again come to the front. The
democrats will insist upon q law that will en-
tall the succession upon the party in power
They will probably seek to repeal the present
statute which vests the presidential Office upon
event of the death of both President and Vice
PRESIDENT, on the ground that such succession
pressed at the ballot box.
NOT PLEASING TO THE DEMOCRATS
In connection with this subject there is a
good dShl OF feeling among democrats with re-
gard to the election of president pro tempore
of the Senate. AS the law now stands, that
Official. when chosen. would succeed to the
Cleveland. Some of the democratic Congress-
men in Washington think that the republican
majority of the Senate ought, at least, choose a
officer. The suggestion that either Senator
Logan or Senator Sherman should be elected is
not not pleasing to the democrats; They do not
these Senators coping to the presidential chair.
"They are" said a democratic Congressman,
be ahe 70 SaosE
wing of their party. They are bitter sectional
lists and proscriptive partisans. The republic
ments of both Logan and Sherman have been
condemned at the polls, should not force either
one OF them upon us as presiding officer OF the
Senate"
POSITION OF SENATOR-ELECT MITCHELL.
There is some talk, too, of the possibility OF
the election of a democrat, but such an idea
does not seem to be entertained with any great
feeling of hope among democrats. It is said
that Senator-elect Mitchell, of Oregon, who was
elected by the aid OF democratic votes, will
probably be willing to cooperate with the dem.
ocrats in the matter of the selection of q pre-
siding officer. One or two other republican
Senators who are known to be very liberal in
politics are spoken of as possibly refraining
from entering republican caucus, but this is
mere conjecture.
NO CONFERENCE YET.
The democratic Senators who are in Wash.
ington have only considered the subject OF
electing presiding officer in a general way.
There has been no conference among them on
the question. The indications are that they
will name some one of their number for the
Office, and give him the compliment OF their
votes, unless there shall be O compromise OF
some sort 6etween the two parties in the Senate.
This is not deemed probable and it is likely that
Senator Harris, OF Tennessee, VIII be cOmpli-
mented with the democratic nomination.