The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-05-22
HOLDS A UNIQUE POSITION.
Vice. President of the United States Is
Merely an Emergency Man.

Vice. President of the United States Is
Merely an Emergency Man.
The vice presidency is essentially an
Office of dignity. No other Office under
the government. so highly esteemed as
that of the vice president of the United
States, has such lofty possibilities for
its occupant, while at the same time be-
ing 80 utterly bereft of influence either
to WELD patronage or to affect legisla-
ton. The vice presidency requires a
man fitted to fill the highest Office un-
der the government. He is an emer-
gency man. Should death remove the
president it is he who is called upon
to occupy the white house. Should
there be tie in the vote of the senate
he then has the deciding vote, but, ex-
cept in this emergency, he Is without
influence to affect legislation. While
the speaker Of the house of representa-
tives assigns all the representatives to
places on committees, and in that way
virtually determines what legislation
shall be enacted, the vice president, not
being a member of the senate, has moth
ing to do with the formation of COM
mittees, and is not even admitted to the
caucusses of his party, in which, if that
party have majority, committee as
signments are determined and the
policy of the party is mapped out.
The patronage of the vice president
consists in the appointment of secre-
tary, messenger, telegraph operator
and telegrapher's page. That is all.
The presiding officer of the senate &C.
supies a handsome room, opening on
the senate lobby, aid he Is accorded
all the respect which goes with his
high Office, the chief function of which
is to preside over the deliberations of
the United States senate.
Because of the peculiar character of
the duties Of the vice president the
daily routine of his life is very different
from that of a United States senator
His social life in Washington is just
what he chooses to make it. His invita-
tions would not be disregarded by any
one in official or social life here, but
whether he entertain much or little is a
matter purely within his own pleasure.
While certain social functions are a
part of the official duties of the presi-
dent the vice president is free to enter
tain or not. as he sees fit. But the vice
president is sought by many visitors
TO the capital, and visitors from Illinois
especially do not like to leave Washing
ton without having sought an intro
duction to the vice president and the
man who is regarded as a presidential
possibility.
The duties of the vice president do
not require him to burn any midnight
oil in the consideration of public ques-
tons. He has ample opportunity to
keep himself informed on all matters
that come before congress by being a
good listener. and he has no occasion
to prepare any speech for delivery in
the senate. He is relieved from all COM
mittee work, Of course. and even thu
task of presiding over the senate is
rendered an easy one because of the
fact that that body is very docile one
to govern, and is not frought with the
perplexing parliamentary problems
that are constantly occurring in the
house of representatives. The fact
that the senate is so largely run by
courtesy" makes it an easy body to
preside over. Perhaps no man con
nected with the United States senate
is so apt to be bored as is the vice pres
ident. Without power to influence leg
islation. his Office being such that even
any suggestion from him would be
apt to be regarded as an unwarranted
interference, he is yet obliged to at
tend the sessions of the senate daily,
and to recognize this or that one who
happens to have a bill or 1, suggestion
to make.-Washingto Star.