Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-01-21
CONGRESSIONAL TALK.
Interesting Debate in the House
on the Hoar Bill Passed
by the Senate.
The Silver Question in the Senate
Messrs. Brown and Maxey
Favor Coinage.
Presidential Succession.

IEcbiuenuhl bucCcbbiOns
Mr.. Caldwell of Tennessee, called up the
Hoar Presidential-successio bill in the House,
and stated that the committee. in reporting this
measure, had not dealt with indifference or dis
respect with other propositions before it. There
were many measures proposed that would more
properly meet all possible or imaginary exigen-
sies than the one now reported, but they all re-
quired a constitutional amendment before
they could become laws, and consti-
tutional amendment involved a 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 mea.
sure did not cover, but the present exigency it
completely covered. 1t was temporary bridge
thrown across q chasm in order to meet public
demand, and would be followed in due time by
Republican, Democratic Presidents might march
In unbroken succession. Mr. Cooper, of Ohio
who prepared the minority report, protested
against the general principle of the bill
against the idea OF ve0ting in the person who
occupied the Presidential chair the power to
perpetuate the succession. by naming his
successor. He was profoundly doubtful Of
the constitutionality OF a provision which would
vest the Presidency upon a man appointed by
an outgoing administration. He believed 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 legisla-
lion, because it tended to widen the space be-
tween the President and the people. II there
were defects in the present law they should be
remedied by carefully considered legislation.
What was worth while for the American Con-
gress to do, was worth doing well. He could see
no exigency which required red-hot haste in
passing this 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
trom anarchy In cases OF trouble arising in the
matter of the Presidential succession.
Mr. Mckinley Of Ohio, gave notice Of a sub
stitute which he would offer for the bill This
substitute preserves the law Of 1892 with the
addition Of n provision that for the purpose OF
having Speaker of the House OF Repre- senta-
tives continually in Office Congress shall con-
vene ON the 4th Of March next succeeding the
whenever q vacancy exists either in the Office OF
President pro tenn of the Senate or the Speaker
Of the House the President shall convene the
House in which the vacancy exists for the pur-
pose of electing a presiding officer.
Mr.. Peters, of Kansas, regarded the pending
impotent. But for these faults 1t was pretty
fair BILL He asserted that Congress had no
power TO enact a law which violated the intent
Of the Constitution and which in effect declared
an appointive officer should act President.
It was a f1agr ut usurpation of the power vested
in the people. The best measure on the sub
| ject, in his opinion, was the bill introduced in
| 1867 providing for the meeting of Congress on
| the 4th Of March each alternate year. That
would amply provide against any break in
the line of succession.
| Dental succession under existing law was al
| best doubtful and uncertain. He earnestly adj
vocated the passage Of the pending measure
| maintaining that it would remove many dan
gers from the path Of the Presidential success
| sion.
Mr.. Rowell, of Illinois, characterized the bill
as a crude one and suggested that IL the pre-
siding officer Of the Senate was Of the same
| party as the Executive there would not be the
| haste to amend q law which had stood for nine
| ty-four years. The strongest objection to the
| bill, in his opinion, was that it permitted the
| party in power to perpetuate that power for an
| Indefinite number OF years, as admitted by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Caldwell.
Never before had the American people been pre-
temptation to anarchy, such a temptation tC
| revolution