The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-09
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
The Enormous Powers Entrusted to the
President of the United States,
The National Senate Being the Only Check
The Duties of the Vice-PreSident and
the Speaker of the House.

STAFF Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Nov Although the Consti-
tuition of the United States has defined the
duties and the powers of the President Vice
president, and Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, there have been so many obligations
imposed upon the FIRST and tire last-named officers
by acts of Congress that their influence may be
said to be almost infinite and their powers IN
limited, at times OF course, the Vice president
of the United States is powerful officer only
when occupying the position of presiding officer
of the Senate, and his Office is considered proni-
nent and important principally because OF its
being in the line of ascension to the Presidency.
The Vce-presijent becomes President OF the
United States in the event of the death Or re-
1noyal of the latter officer Inasmuch most
of the important bills originate in the House of
Representatives. and that body is more boist-
erous one than the Senate, the Speaker is con-
sidered more powerful officer in his chair than
the President of the Senate. 1t lies within the
purview of the Speaker to defeat almost any
measure he may select for that fate, and it is
next to an impossibility to detect him in any per-
sonal motive. Seldom in the history of Congress
has an appeal taken from the Chair in the House
been successful so far as to cast personal refec-
ton. In the Senate, where there are less than
one-fourth the number of representatives that
there are in the House, the presiding officer nat
urally has less leeway, and can exert very much
less personal influence.
1t is provided in the Constitution that the
President shall be Commander in chief Of the
army and navy of the United States. and of the
actual service for the government; that he shall
have power to grant reprieves and pardons for
offenses against the United States, except in
cases Of impeachment; may make treaties with
foreign countries by the advice and consent of
the Senate, appoint and remove ambassadors and
other public ministers and consuls, judges of the
Supreme Court, and all officers of the United
States. His power does not stop here by any
means, however The great bulk of laws relat-
ing to the judiciary of the United States and ex-
penditures of large sums Of money by the gov
ernment's officers have clauses in them giving
the President power to amend at his discretion.
For instance, the civi-service law is so com
pletely given over to the President for amend
ment and executions that he may nullify il, in
fact. This law. by the way, is declared to be
unconstitutional by its opponents, on the ground
that it is in conflict with the second section of
Article 2 of the Constitution, defining the duties
of the President and Vice president, where il
says that "the President shall have power to nom.
1nate, and by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate shall appoint ambassadors and other
public ministers and consuls judges of the Su-
preme Court, and all other officers of the United
States whose appointments are not otherwise
provided for and which shall be established by
Jaw" The trainers and the friends of the civil
service law however, give it constitutionalty in
tine latter part Of the clause above quoted which
states: But the Congress may by law vest the
appointment of such superior officers as they
4hink proper in the President alone, in the courts
of law or in the heads of departments" and they
also uphold the law upon constitutions! points in
the clause which follows and which states that
''the President shall have power to fill up all
vacancies that may happen during the recess OF
the Senate by granting commissions which shall
expire at the end of their next session." AL
though the Presidents power may be almost alb
esolute in the dispensaton of civiservice reform,
st appears in the eyes of constitutional lawyers
in the Senate and on the Supreme bench of the
United States. that the last two quotations fur
Fnish solid basis for the law now on the statute
Books, and the chief executive would provoke
grounds for impeachment should he take any
personal liberties with the law, tending to de-
tract from its merit and efficiency.
1t has been many years since the President Of
the United States has had opportunity to show
his authority SO fully and radically as was given
Mr. Arthur in the late star-route trials 1t will
be remembered that number of public officials
were removed upon the mere suspicion that they
were so friendly to the defendants in this cele-
brated case as that they might allow their per-
sonal feelings to influence them in the discharge
of their public duties. No positive proof was
asked by the President against the parties but
the statement of the Attorney general that he
believed that the men in the positions which
were vacated by removal would impede the
progress of the governments prosecution was
sufficient. The Attorney general called the at
tention of the President to the matter lust as
the sun was going down, and before twilight had
fairly set in, the FIVE or six officers were removed
and ordered to vacate instantly.
The actions of the President can never be sue.
Gessfully called to account except by the Senate
of the United States and then only when they
are brought into trial for impeachment The
President. as well as the Vice president, sena-
tors and representatives in the lower House OF
Congress. cannot be held personally accountable
for their official utterances or official actions in
the eyes of the law. Senator's or representa-
tiyes or the Vice president. from their seats in
the Capitol. in open session. may utter any kind
OF accusations or arraignments against citizens
or officers without fear of law. They cannot libel
or SANDER in the eyes of the law This pro-
vision was made that there might be
the freest kind of speech in Congress.
and 1t operates many hardships at times
against private citizens and officials, who cannon
defend themselves upon the Same grounds as
their tradncers, but it has been in practice 50
long and haer tasted fullx mi tel "