The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-15
was agreed to, and, without making further
progress on the bill, the Senate adjourned until
Brief Discussion of Mr.. Hoar's Presidential
Succession Bill.

the Secretary of the Treasury to issue dupn-
cate certificate of deposit for 900 to the Peo-
pies National Bank, of Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Mr.. Dingley. from the shipping committee, re-
ported resolution directing that committee to
inquire what, If any, legislation will promote
the interests Of the American marine employed
in the fisheries, and TO report by bill or other
wise. Adopted
Two private bills only were reported under the
call of committees for reports, and then began
the morning hour for the consideration of such
business as might be called up.
On behalf of the committee on judiciary, Mr..
Hammond called up bill amending Section
1000, Revised Statutes, 30 as to provide that
final Judgment against the United States. rem
dered by the Court of Claims shall bear interest
at the rate of per cent. per annum from the
date of their presentation to the Secretary of
the Treasury for payment. Mr.. Hammond ex-
planned that the necessity for this bill grew ont
of the fact that in the codifcaton of the laws
the word "or" in the sentence, I'm cases where
the judgment appealed from is in favor of the
claimant, or the same is affirmed by the SUI
preme Court" etc, had been changed to ''and."
1t had been held, under this wording that be-
fore judgment could draw interest it must be
affirmed by the Supreme Court, which had not
been the intention of the law. The bill was
passed
On behalf Of the committee on claims, Mr.
Springer called up the resolution directing that
committee to inquire into the expediency OF
passing general laws for the ascertainment or
facts in all private measures by judicial tribunal
before action by Congress, and also the propri-
ETY. of prohibiting the adjudication of private
claims or relief measures by Congress- Mr.
Springer stated that the object Of the resolution
was to pave the way to some legislation which
would relieve Congress from the great and un-
necessary burden of Drivate claims.
Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, while he had no OBJ
lection to the purport of the resolution, con-
tended that it referred to matter over which
the judiciary committee had jurisdiction, and
he offered an amendment providing that the
inquiry shall be conducted by the committee on
judiciary.
The amendment was agreed to, and the reso-
luton as amended adopted.
On behalf of the committee on presidential
laws, Mr.. Caldwell, of Tennessee, called up the
Hoar presidential succession BILL and as there
were but few minutes of the morning hour
naming, it was agreed that the debate should
continue during the afternoon. Mr. Caldwell re-
serving the right to call the previous question at
any time. Mr.. Caldwell stated that the commit
tee, in reporting this measure, had not dealt with
indifference disrespect with other propositions
before it. There were many measures pro-
posed that would more properly meet
all possible or imaginary ext
gencies than the one now reported,
but they all required a constitutional amendment
before they could become laws, and constitu-
tional amendment involved delay which would
i'll accord with the reasonable anxiety which the
great body of the people felt. There were many
exigencies which the pending measure did not
cover, but the present exigency it completely
covered. 1t was temporary bridge thrown
across chasm in order to meet public de-
mand, and would be followed in due time by an
enduring structure, over which long line of
Repub lican Democratic Presidents might march
IN un broken succession
Mr.. Cooper, of Ohio, who prepared the minor
ity report protested against the general prnci-
Piles of the bill; against the idea of vestng in the
person who occupied the presidential chair the
power to perpetuate the succession by naming
his successor He was profoundly doubtful of
the consttutionality of provision which would
vest the presidency in man appointed by
outgoing administration. He believed it to be in
violation not only of the spirit and letter of the
Constitution, but of the spirit of which the
Constitution is and was; unwise legislation. be-
cause it tended to widen the space between the
President and the people. If there were defects
in the present law they should be remedied by
carefully considered legislation. What it was
worth while for an American Congress to do, was
worth doing we'll He could see exgency
which required red-hot haste in passing the
measure.
Mr. Eden, of Illinois, defended the bill against
adverse criticism and pointed out wherein it
was an improvement over the existing law. The
present measure would preserve the country
from anarchy in case of trouble arising in the
matter of the presidential succession.
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, gave notice of sub
stitute which he would offer for the bill.
[This substitute preserves the law of 1892. with
the addition of provision that, for the purpose of
having Speaker of the House of Representatives
continually in office, Congress shall convene the
18th of March next succeeding the election of Repre-
sentatives to Congress- and whenever vacancy
ists either in the Office of President pro tempore of
the Senate or Speaker of the House, the President
shall convene the House in which the vacancy exists
fOrf a M "a n in q mr. limo 1iea
Mr.. Peters, of Kansas, regarded the pending
measure as unconstitutional, inexpedient and
impolitc. But for these faults. it was pretty
fair bill. The best measure on the subject in
his opinion was the bill introduced in 1867. pro-
viding for the meeting of Congress on the 4th Of
March each alternate year. That would provide
against any break in the line of succession.
Mr.. Seney, of Ohio believed that the presi-
Dental succession, under existing law.
doubtful and uncertain. and he earnestly advo-
Gated the passage of the pending measure, main
tanning that it would remove many dangers
from the path of the presidential succession.
Mr.. Adams, of Illinois, submitted an argument
in opposition to the bill, which he regarded as
dangerous one. The power of the President was
so vast, the splendor of the Office was so captl-
waiting to the minds of American statesmen, that
the transfer of the Office from one man to anoth-
er should not depend on a state of facts so hard
to determine as the question of disability.
Mr.. Dibble, of South Carolina, inquired wheth-
or the same objection might not be advanced
with even greater force against existing law.
Mr.. Adams admitted this, but stated that he
had prepared an amendment which would rem
edy the evil. His second objection to the bill
was that there was no provision for speedy
election by the people to fill the vacancy in the
Office of President
Mr.. Powell, of Illinois. characterized the
bill as crude one. and suggested that If the
presiding officer of the Senate were OF the same
opinion as the executive, they would not be in
hot haste to amend a law which had stood for
ninety-four years. The strongest objection to
law of that power for an indefinite number of
years. as admitted by the gentleman from Ten
nessee Mr. CALDWELL Never before had the
American people been presented with such a
temptation to crime, such temptation to an
archy. such a temptation to revolution
The debate then closed, but will be resumed
Tomorrow, after the transaction of private BUSH