The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-22
MR.. MORTON AND HIS DUTIES.

In case Of the death or disability of the
president, the vice-president takes his
place as chief executive. This is a wise
provision of the constitution to prevent
the business disturbance and confusion
which would result from the nations be-
ing left without an official head. But
most frequently the vice-president is
never called upon to perform the duties
of president. Had he no other constitu-
tiOnal duties, therefore, his term would
ordinarily be one Of cOmplete idleness. 1t
was wisely decided that the people ought
not to pay a large salary to an official
who. except in an accidental contingent
/ cy, would never do a particle of service
toward earning it. 1t was accordingly
made the duty of the vice president, in
addition to waiting for something to
! happen to the president, to sit as presi-
/ dent Of the senate-a responsible and in
! some measure labOriOus positiOn-and
! thus earn his pay. This duty has custo-
lnarily, from the beginning of the gov
/ eminent, been COnSCientiOusly discharged
! by the various incumbents of the vice
presidential Office, except in cases of sick
! ness or other disability.
! But an innovation seems to have been
made. From simple dissemination or
! from desire to devote attention to pri-
vate business-probably the former-Mr.
Morton does not preside over the senate's
! deliberations. During all the eight or
nine months congress has been in session
| the vice president has given but a few
! days time to his duties in the senate, the
work which rightfully devOlves upon
him being turned over to a senator. So
constantly did Mr.. Morton absent him
self from the senate chamber that, to
avoid repeatedly electing some one to fill
his place, the senate finally created the
office of president pro tenn for the entire
session.
1t does not strike the average thinking
citizen as exactly right for an official Of
the government to regularly shirk the
duties he was elected to perform, and
necessitate their being discharged for the
entire session by a senator whose time
fought to be wholly employed in looking
after the interests of his constituents and
the welfare Of the people. 1t is a prece-
dent which if followed, as it is likely to
be- will practically reverse the whole
some provision of the constitution re-
curing the vice-president TO earn his
salary like the president or any other en-
pIove Of the government. If Mr.. Nor
tons course quietly accepted by the
country the actual duties Of the vice
president are likely TO be henceforth per-
formed by proxy at the peoples expense.
The point in the foregoing, which is
excepted from the editorial col
umns of the Emporia Repub-
lican, is well taken and the implied
structures upon course that has been
pursued by the present vice-president are
properly applied. 1t has been the re-
mark of the nation. The presumption is
that a man who is elected to position is
reasonably qualified to perform its duties,
and his acceptance of such position car
ries with it a willingness on his part to
do the best he can. The late Thomas 4. /
Hendricks, the vice-president under Mr.
Cleveland, inaugurated an innovation
that met with some criticism. but was
universally commended for It's good
sense and the effect it would have had /
if he had lived to carry it fully into
effect, of magnifying the office by per
forming all the duties pertaining thereto. /
including a seat at the council table of /
the administration. Had he lived to /.
carry this idea and policy into effect the
precedent would no doubt have become |
SO popular as to make it an unwritten /
law for future observance.
Mr.. Morton's departure in the opposite /
direction will not be accepted and recog- /
nized as an established precedent 1t Is
simply an ineXcusabe neglect of duty
that Will not be condoned by an indulg-
ant public. The fact that the duties of
the office, as far as presiding over the
senate is concerned, have been as well or
better performed by the presentpro tenn.
president of that body. does not alter the
case in the least, and viii not be accepted
as a satisfactory excuse by the people.