Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-28
REMODELING TIE LAW OF PRESI.
DENTAL SUCCESSION.

The state of uneasinsss in which the
people have been placed owing to the de-
teets Of our laws in providing for the Pres
Dental succession is very unpleasant
Secretary BAYARD nearly expresses the
public feeling when he says The news
Of Mr.. HENDNCEs' death is painful to US
all, but the condition in which the Ameri-
can people are placed by his death through
the failure Of Congress 10 pass proper laws
regarding the Presidential succession, the
TACT that there nov but one mans life
between the American people and no Pres
idsnt, ia more painful to contemplate
In the event of Mr.. CLEvELAyD'S death
before the organization Of the Senate, the
Government would be without an Execu-
tive head. According to q constitutional
provision, Congress hss interpOsed two
lives between the President and Vice Pres
ideut and an untitled vacancy by this
statute: IN case Of removal, death, res
igna,ion or inability Of both the President
and Vice President of the United States,
the President of the Senate, or, if there is
none, then the Speaker Of the House of
Representatives for the time being, shall
act as President until the disability is re-
moved or President elected" But there
ia no President pro TEN. Of the Senate and
no Speaker Of the House, and they will
not be elected till the meeting OF Congress
on December :.
In such q contingency the Government
would probably be carried on By the Csbi- I
net, as it was during the disability OF Pres
idsnt GARFIELD ill q President of the Sen
ate or q Speaker of the House could be
elected.
In case 8 vacancy should now occur in
the Presidency. and a Speaker Of the
House or President pro tempore of the
Senate takes the place, neither Of these
roSld hold thai position during the re-
msinder OF the unexpired term, but only till
such time az sn election can be held. 1t
is provided that if the vacancy occurs two
months before the first Wednesday in De !
eember, the election is held within thirty
four days preceding such FIRST Wednesday |
in December, and the Electoral College
meets on such first Wednesday. If two
months do not intervene between the va,
cancy and the stated date, the election is
held the next following year, provided the
regular Presidential term does not expire
the preceding 4th Of March.
The acting President would then, enter
ing upon his duties now, only be permitted
to held the Office tor a little more than q
year.
Though this is q government Of the peO-
pie, by the people and for the people, and
its existense does not depend upon the life
Of one man or 3 score Of men, yet Con.
gress at the next session should promptly
place this question upon g more certain
basis and provide for every contingency.
The fact that within the present generation
three Yice-Presidsnts have died in office
and two Presidents have been asssssinsEed
ought to cause Congress to forget any cur
rent party advantage its members may
have in view and oct in the interest Of pa {
riotism in removing every opportunity for I
! crisis when mems minds become heated
BY passion or governed By over ambition !
or political supremacy. i
Not only should the laws Of Presidential o
accession be laid down in such q way that c
here can be no mistaking them, but il :
bould also be provided that when man !,
ucceeds to the Presidency or Vice Prssi- 3
ency, bis political sentiments shall not o