The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 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 MaxF
Favor COhage.
Presidential Succession.

Mr. Caldwell, of Tennessee, called up the
Hoar Presidential-successo 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 OXYGEN
cies than the one now reported, but they hii re-
uuired a constitutional amendment before
they could become laws, and consti-
tutional amendment involved q delay which
would III accord with the reas9napi ,. an T
were many exigencies which the pending mea-
sure did not cover, but the present exigency 1t
completely covered IL was temporary bridge
thrown across a chasm in order to meet public
demand and would be followed in due time by
an enduring structure over which long line OF
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 vesting 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 u provision which would
vest the Presidency upon q man appointed by
an outgoing administration. DE believed IL 20
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-
ton, because il 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
Mr. Eden, Of Illinois, defended the bill against
adverse criticism, and pointed out wherein 1t
was 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 1872, with the
addition Of a provision that for the purpose of
hav ft,uu Ctn olyarn f fIa nf Qavlfa
tives continually in Office Congress shall con-
vene on the 4th of March next succeeding the
elections of Representatives Of Congress and
whenever vacancy exists either in the Office OF
President pro tenn of the Senate or the 81 eaker
of the House the President shall convene the
House in which the vacancy exists for the pur-
pose of electing presiding officer.
Mr.. Peters, Of Kansas, regarded the pending
measure as unconstitutional, inexpedient, and
impotent But for these faults it 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 as President.
1t was fragrant usurpation of the power vested
in the people. The best measure on the sub
lect, in bis opinion, was the bill introduced in
1867 providing for the meeting OF Congress on
the 9Th of March each alternate year. That
would amply provide against any break in
the line of succession.
Mr.. Seney of Ohio believed that the Presi-
Dental succession under existing law was at
best doubtful and uncertain He earnestly ad-
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 q crude one, and suggested that if the pre-
siding officer of the Senate was Of the same
party as the Executive there would not be the
haste to amend a law which had stood for nine
| ty-four years The strongest objection to the
bill, in his opinion, was that il permitted the
party in power TO perpetuate that power for an
indefinite number Of years, as admitted by the
gentleman from Tennessee MIR. CALDWELL
Never before had the American people been pre-
scented with such u temptation to crime, such a
temptation to anarchy such temptation to
revolution