Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-15
H0AR'S SUCCESSION BILL.
FERMENTATION OF POWER ONE
OF IT'S CHIEF FAULTS.


Would be in Power.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-In the House
to-day, on behalf of the Committee on
Presidential Laws, Mr.. Caldwell, of Ten
nessee, called up the Hoar Presidential
succession bill and as there were Dut
few minutes of the morning hour remain
ing by unanimous consent it was agreed
that the debate should continue during
the afternoon. Mr.. Caldwell reserving
the right to call the previous question at
any time. Mr.. Caldwell stated that the
committee, in reporting this measure, bad
not dealt with Indifference or disrespect
with the other propositions before it.
BETTER PROPORTIONS,
There were many measures proposed
that would more properly meet all possi-
| BILE or imaginary eXlgencies than the one
now reported, but they all required "A con-
stitational amendment before they could
! become laws, and a constitutional amend
ment involved delay which would i'll ae-
cord with reasonable anxiety which the
great body of the people felt. There were
many exigencies which the pending meas
ure did not cover, but the present eXi-
gency it completely covered.
ONLY A TEMPORARY BRIDGE.
1t was a temporary bridge thrown
across a chasm in order to meet the
public demand, and would be followed in
due time by an enduring structure, over
which a long line of Republican and
Democratic Presidents might march in
unbroken succession.
Mr.. Perkins, of Kansas-f the Presi-
dent should die or be removed, who,
| under this bill, would succeed to the
Office?
MIR. Caldwell-The Secretary Of State.
LOOKING TO 1888.
Mr.. Perkins-H in 1888 the election Of
last year should be reversed and the elec-
tOral college should meet and should
designate a President ana Vice President
elect. and before their inauguration they
should die Or should be assassinated, who,
for the four wears thereafter, would con-
tinue President?
Mr.. Caldwell-The present Secretary of
State.
Mr.. Perkins-If in 1892 the same should
occur again, VINO would be President for
four years?
Mr.. Caldwell-That is only an assump-
tiOn that in 1888 the gap has not been re-
| moved by other and better legislation.
NOT GOOD LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Perkins-Do you believe it is good
| legislation to give any officer power to
| ecutive office?
Mr.. CALDWELL do not; and do not
| understand that the bill admits Of any
! such construction.
Mir. Cooper of Ohio who prepared the
/ minority report, stated the reasons which
| impelled him to take "A stand against the
| measure, and pointed out the objections
/ which be considered as fatal to its utility.
| He protested against the general priBci-
! pie of the bill, against the idea Of vesting
/ in the person VINO occupied the Presi-
! Dental chair power to perpetuate
! succession by naming his Successor. He
was profoundly doubtful Of the c0nstitu-
| tiOnality Of a provision which would vest
! the Presidency upon the man appointed
/ by an outgoing administration. He be-
/ lieved It to be in violation not only of the
spirit and letter Of the constitution but of
( the spirit out Of which the constitution
/ rose, and was unwise legislation because
/ it tended to widen the space between the
President and people.
A PUzzLER.
! Mr.. Adams of New York, rose and pro-
! pounded the question: "Suppose the Sec
retary Of the Treasury should succeed to
! the Office of President. and then appointed
a Secretary of State, assuming that va
cancy existed, who would be President
under the bill2 Would the Secretary Of
| Treasury acting as President after con-
| firmation by the Senate, or would the
! Secretary OF the Treasury acting as Presi-
| dent hold the office for the uneXpired
! term, and after the Secretary of State
! qualiiedp
THAT is question which / give up"
replied Mr.. Cooper.
Mr.. Cooper continuing said that If there
were defects in the present law, they
! rnmpdlQH
sidered legislation. What 1t was worth
| while for an American Congress to do was
worth doing well. He could see no eXi-
| gency which required red hot haste in
passing this measure.
THE BILL DEFENDED.
Mr.. Eden, Of Illinois, defended the bill
against the adverse criticism, and pointed
out wherein it was an Improvement over
| the existing law. The present measure
! would preserve the country from anarchy
in cases Of trouble arising in the matter of
the Presidential succession.
Mr.. Mckinley, OF Ohio, gave notice Of a
substitute which he would offer for the
bill. This substitute preserves the law OF
| 1892 with the addition OF the provision
that for the purpose OF having the Speaker
| OF the House OF Representatives cOntinu-
ally in office. Congress shall convene on
/ the 4th OF March next succeeding the cleo
/ whenever a vacancy exists either in the
Office Of President pro tenn. of The Senate
or Speaker Of the House the President
shall convene the house IN which the va
cancy exists for the purpose Of electing a
presiding officer.
Mr.. Peters, Of Kansas, regarded the
pending measure rs unconstitutional, in
/ eXpedent and impohtic. But for these
faults Do WAS pretty fair bill. He assert
j td tNat Congress had no power 10 enact q
/ Jaw which violated the intent Of the com
/ sthution. and which IN effect declared
/ that an appOintiye officer should act AZ
! President. II was ildgrant usurpatiOn
OF the power vested IN the people.
THE PRESENT UNCERTAINTY.
Mr. Seney, OF ohio, believed mat the
( Presidential succession under the exist
/ ing law was, no best, doubtful aud uncer-
! tain. He detailed the difficulties which
I might arise under The present system and
. the complications wsch miRht be- thrust
upon the country in the event OF there
being no President of the senate and no
Speaker Of the House 800 tHc time OF Presi-
Dental disability. Tie earnestly adyOca-
ted The passage OF the pending measure,
maintaining that n would remove many
dangers from The path 0i Preaidontial sue
T ceeHlOn,
Mr. CoWles. Of North Carolina. favored
/ the bill. not because it was the beet that
I could ha devised. but because n was Hui-
] nrlauE for fnn 4viI NHlafiun "a dHV