The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ON MARCH 4 THERE WILL BE NO
PRESIDENT.
That Is to Say, for u Few Minutes-Com-
plications That Would Arise II Harrison
and Morton Died-stupendous Prepare
lions for the Inauguration.
Especial Correspondence.l

and Morton Died-Stupendous Prepare
lions for the Inauguration.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-One week from to-
day, at noon, the sovereignty of the people of
the United 'tatcs will be transferred from
Grover Cleveland to Benjamin Harrison.
| For the space of twenty or thirty minutes,
however, there will be no president During
this brief time the government of the United
States will be represented 10y the senate alone.
The senate never dies and II is one OF its pre-
negatives To hold the scepter OF power during
| the short nterregnum which follows the eX-
! piration of one presidents term and the
swearing into office of his successor. At the
| end of the legislative day of March 3, which
| will be at noon, March I, the Flttieth CON
gtess will come TO an end, and at the same
moment the constitutional authority of Gro
yer Cleveland to exercise the power of pres-
dent will expire 10y limitation There is at
that moment no president no house of repre-
sentatives. But the senate having been called
TO meet in extraordinary session at II o'clock,
March t. suffers no interruption of organlza-
ton or cessation of authority. Precisely at
noon Levi Z, Morton will take the oath of
office as vice president, the gavel will be
placed in his hands 10y President pro tenn
pore ingalls,, and the reorganization is COM
plete. During the twenty or more minutes
which elapse between noon and the taking of
the oath of office by the new president there
will be no chief executive
No dangers attend this brief interregnum.
| I ,l, cln foil lnai
while on his way from the senate chamber to
the portco of the Capitol to take the oath of
office, Morton would become president 1t is,
however, a curious fact that notwithstanding
| the efforts that have been made by congress
TO provide against all perils besettlng the
/ continuance of executive authority, one pos
sibility suggestive of anarchy still remains.
Should both Harrison and Morton die before
taking the oath of Office, after noon March
1, there would be neither president nor vice
president, nor any person ON whom authority
would ENTHUSIASTICALLY to assume the
presidency. We should become nation
without head The new presidential sue
cession law provides that in case of tie re-
moval death, resignation or inability of the
president the vice president shall become
president and in case of the death, etc, of the
vice president, then the secretary of state,
and thus with other cabinet officers III their
turn But Mr. Blaine could not become sec
rotary of state till after Harrison had be-
come president and had nominated him to the
senate for that Office. Mr. BayaId could not
assume the presidency because the death Of
Harrison and Morton would not be the death
of the president and vice president
for the reason that they are not presl-
dent and vice president till they take
tho oath of Office. If they die before
noon of March +, they die as private citizens
in the eye Of tie law and the succession law
would not, therefore, operate. On this point
asked the opinion Of Hon. Eppa IIumton,
who is recognized as ono Of the best constitu-
tioual lawyers in the country. BE gave il as
his belief that iii the event Of the death Of
both Harrison and Morton before taking their
oath OF Office an intorregHum would follow.
Such Il complication would from one point
of view he q serious one. There IS no provi
sion for a new election, and there would be nc
acting president to Gala new election. In tbs
absence OF law covering such a contingency
the members OF the outgoing cabinet might
claim the right Of succession, or the congress
elect, which has Il majority Of another politi.
cal faith, might assume the right TO order a
new election. Thus would come about n con
test for possession Of the executive authority
with what effects upon the stability and
peace of the country no man could foretell
So far as the government itself is concerned
it could run on The present cabinet minis
tors could, if they wished, continue in Office
and other public officers could persist in the
discharge OF their duties Appropriation
bills might be pushed through congress in
regular form, to become laws through fail
ure of the executive there being none to re,
turn them with his veto within ten days
OF course n contingency of this nature Is
not likely to arise now or at any other time.
The danger is a very remote one, but pru
dence dictates that the law be amended tc
cover in some manner the possibility of in
corruption of the executive function by death
of twom between the second Monday in
January and the 4th day of March.
The people of Washington are not worry
ing about any possibility of an interruption
of their quadrennial festival Inauguration