New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-27

EFFECTS OF THE VICE-PRESIDENTSDE DEATH
The death of Vice-President Hendricks makes
a change of considerable Importance IN the
government of the country. Prior to that
event, thirty-eight Democratic Senators, with
the Vice President, could pass any bill or
| confirm any appointment. Now thlrty-hlhe
Senators are required to do either Inc
Democrats have had hopes of secur-
ing thirty EIGHT members OF the Sen
ate during the latter half of President Cleve-
lands term A recent statement by LIE
TRIBUNE that the elections this year rendered
it certain that the Republicans would continue
to control the Senate, was disputed by The Sun,
which affirmed that the Democrats Idight
reasonably hope to gain barely enough to give
them a majority in the Senate with the casting
vote of tho Vice President. But that Oppor-
tunity vanished forever when the Nice-Pres-
ident died. Nor is there any visible probability
that the Democrats will be able TO secure one
more seat than they had hoped to gain.
The situation is changed in another important
respect. The presiding officer OF the Senate
often has power by his rulings and appointments
of committees to favor or to hinder legislation.
II was for this reason deemed proper that the
official elected at the same time with the Pres
idcnt to succeed in case Of his death should
pccnpy the chair in the Senate The influence
which he may there exert in supporting the
policy of the Administration is at times quite
great This influence, whatever it might have
been, is lost to the Administration by the death
of the Vice President. 1t is but fair TO add,
however, that in many important matters the
Vice President was not in harmony with the
declared purposes of the President. and an
antagonism between the two might not lmproD-
ably have arisen. From that danger, be 1t
great Or small the Democratic party Is saved,
but at the cost Of positive loss OF influence
which IN certain contingencies may prove I'M
portant
Every mind turns, of course 10 the thought
that the person now to BE- elected President of
the Senate by the Republican majority would
become acting President Of the United states IN
case of President Gle veland'S death. There ought
to be no partisan in the country who would
desire the death of the President or look for
ward to such q contingency with any nope or
| expectancy; but it is nevertheless the duty OF
| the majority i'll the Senate to act with iull
! sense of its responsibility. The selection OF a
president pro tenn. by the Senate will be and
| ought to be governed in a measure by an appre-
! citation of the fact that, in contingency which
| all hope may not arise, the person so selected
| will have to discharge the Executive duties
until the election of new President
and Vicc-Presidcnt. There are many men
who could preside satisfactorily over
| the sessions Of the Senate. There are
several in whom, in that position, the
! Republican members Of that body would place
great confidence. 1t is their duty to select
! from those members the one to whom they
would deem it wiseSt and safest to have the
executive power entrusted, if the President
should die before the completion of his term OF
| office.
Almost half the voters of the United States,
at the last election, supported Senat0t Logan
for Vice President, believing him to be Il
pcison worthy to succeed in case of the death
of the President. 1t is proper that this fact
should have some weight with Republican
Senators in making their choice. To select
Senator Logan, under these circumstances,
would perhaps involve less reflection upon
either of the other Senators who might be
chosen, than the selection of one not so dcsig-
mated by the popular vote as fitting successor
in case of a Presidential vacancy.