Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-13
FILLING THE PRESIDENCY
THE HOAR BILL FAVORABLY
REPORTED TO THE HOUSE.

Cabinet Onieers Held to be the Proper
Onncials on Whom the Chief Magis-
trate's Mantle should Fall in Gaze of
His RsmOvSl-A Minority Report TO
be Submitted.
WASHINGTON, Jan. I2.--ln reporting
the bill the majority of the committees say
IL is absolutely necessary to provide for
succession under the circumstances now
existing, leaving further and more salts
factory provisions for con tiugencies which
may possibly arise to other measures here
after to be proposed. AS to the question
of the advisability OF changing the pres
ent law, the majority say that they are
confronted by many difficulties that arise
In the endeavor TO ascertain the constitu-
tionallty of the present system.
GRAVE DOUBTS.
There are grave doubts as to whether
the President pro tenn of the Senate or the
Speaker Of the House are such officers of
the United States as in the meaning and
intent of the Constitution could succeed
to the Presidential office, the statutes
providing therefor to the contrary not
withstanding. These doubts would dis
turb the succession under the present
statutes, and would in all PROBABILITY lead
to contest that would disquiet the
nation, unsettle business and disturb the
peace OF the country.
After long quotations from the Madison
papers and the early statutes, the ma
Jority say it is shown that the propriety
OF this the presently measure of success
sion was challenged by the father of the
constitution not only in the Federal Con-
Vention, but in Congress.
TROUBLE WOULD HAVE ENsUED.
1t is true that no trouble has arisen un-
der it but it is also true that there has
fortunately been no occasion to apply it
to a settlement Of the Presidential sue
cession. and it is perhaps wRrrantable TO
say that If an occasion had arisen for its
use trouble would have probably ensued.
Grave objection to the present system,
in the opinion of the majority,
lies IN the fact that it merges the eXecu-
tive branch into a legislative branch of
the Government and 'anneXes" the pow
ers and the duties Of the chief executive
officer to the position of President pro
tenn. of the Senate or Speaker of the House.
DOUBLE POWERS.
AS President OF the Senate he would
preside over proceedings s involving the
confirmation of his own nominations. and
as Speaker Of the House he could vote to
Congress may expel one of its members,
hence the acting President might be ex-
PEELED. After further discussing the sub
ject the majority conclude that the Presi-
dent pro TEN. of the Senate and Speaker
of the House are in no sense officers OF
the United States upon Wnom the Presi-
dental succession can devOlve.
CABINET OFFICERS THE PROPER Sue
CEsSORS.
The majority Of the Committee think
the Cabinet officers selected by the chOs-
en- President OF the people by and with
the consent of the Senate, the representa-
tive body of the sovereign States, is
certainly the proper successor to the ad-
minlstration of the government for the
remainder of the term. In conclusion the
report says: "The passage of this act
will meet the just expectations OF the
people to provide tor an evil
that may befall us; and whether
it is perfect In all respects TO meet the diff
ticulties that confront us or not, it is much
better than the present system governing
the Presidential succession. and will at
best put the question in its present shape,
at rest until 1t may be definitely settled
by a constitutional amendment, or such
other means as Congress may determine.
In the House to-day, Mr.. Caldwell, of
Tennessee, from the Committee on Laws,
regulating the election of President and
Vice President, reported back without
amendment the HOar Presidential sue
cession bill, and it was placed on the
House calendar.
Mr.. Cooper, of Ohio, gave notice that he
would file a minority report.