The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-12-18

,rrs~ our regular correspondent,
WAsHrsorox, Nov. 9Th, lss

Executive Departments arc draped
in mourning again, and the National
flag upon all the Government build
ings floats at half-mast.
When the President was informed
by telephone OF the death OF Vice.
President Hendricks, he was going
down TO dinner. He seemed great
ly shocked, and showed a hesltancy
In believing the sad news. Then he
sent fer Col. Lamont, and In a short
timo the Cabinet officers were hasten
Ing TO the White House with serious
and anxious faces, summoned by Mr..
Cleveland.
The Cabinet remained 10 session
Tor two hours and half. The com.
missioner Of public buildings was
sent for, and ordered 10 have oil pub.
lie buildings draped with 0mblems
Of mourDing Us soon as possible. The
Cabinet took action In regard TO the
funeral, and decided 10 attend II in q
body, with the President.
Mr.. Cleveland would have no sue.
cessor II he should die before the date
OF the meeting of Congress. Under
the constitutional provision two lives
lnterpose between those of the presI-
dent, and Vice President, and q va
cancy. 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 IL there Is none, the
Speaker Of the House shall act as
President untll the disability IL re-
moved or President elected.
At present there Is no President OF
tho Senate aud no Speaker OF the
House, and those officers cannot be
elected until Congress msets. Should
vacancy occur 10 the meantime the
Government would be carried on by
the Cabinet until a President Of the
Senate or Speaker Is elected, as II
was during President Garfiel1's Ina
bilIty.
Cor gress has done nothing TO avoid
such situation as has now arisen.
A bill providing for a different sue
cession to tho presidency was intro
duced last winter. II provided, when
the Offices Of the President aud Vice.
President were both made vacant by
death, that the succession should pass
first to the Secretary Uf State, and
then to the other Cabinet officers In
the line of their rank. Such q meas
ure would keep the power with the
administration which the people
elected. This bin will probably be
reInlroduced early IN the new session
and pushed Tor passage. II would
guard against possible Republican
succession 10 President Cleveland,
should anything happen to him.
II Is not thought that The death Of
the Vice President can have any dis
turblng effect upon National politics,
although of course the majority 10
the Senate will elect a Republican TO
succeed him. That win naiur lly
give rise to feeling OF uucertainty
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 festivities fer some time, such
as State receptions and dinners. The
Cabinet officers will also be prevent
ed temporarily from entertaining.
When the Senate meets 1t will
probably he called 10 order by Its
oldest member. This 10 Senator
MorrilI, Of Vermont. Then the ma.
jority will proceed TO elect presid-
Ing offi.er, who will be either Logan,
Sherman, Hoar, ingalls,, or EdmundS.
(which will IL be ?' Is question
much discussed just now.
Thanksgiving day at the Capito
was celebrated In the timc honored
way. Department clerks were paid
I-vr tire day sefa-a, an that they could
prepare for the holiday In fostIvC
way. The wheels Of the Govern
ment machinery were stopped, school
were closed, churches were opened
and families reunited, ieasted, ant
made merry.
Secretary Whitney offered to give
all the clerks OF the Navy Depart
ment q Thanksgiving turkey, ant
made arrangements to deliver th'
fowl to every officer and employ
who would avail himself to the pro
posal.