The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-10
HOLDS A UNIQUE POSITION
Vice President of the United States IL
Merely an Em rgency Man.
From the WASHINGTON Post

Vice President of the United States IL
Merely an EN- rgency Man.
From the Washington Post.
The vice presidency is essentially an
office of dignity. No other Office under
the government, highly esteemed as
that of the vice president of the United
States, has such lofty possibilities for its
occupant, while at the same time being
so utterly bereft of influence either to
WELD patronage or to affect legislation.
| The vice presidency requires a man fitted
TO I'LL the highest Office under the govern
ment. He is an emergency man. Should
death remove the president 1t is he who
is called upon to occupy the white house.
Should there be a tie in the vote of the
senate he then has the deciding vote, but
except in this emergency, he is without
influence to affect legislation. While the
speaker of the house OF representatives
assigns all the representatives to places
on committees, and in that way virtually
determines what legislation shall be en-
acted, the vice president, not being a
member of the senate, has nothing to do
with the formation of committees, and is
not even admitted to the caucuses of his
party in which, If that party have a ma
Jority, committee assignments are deter
mined and the policy of the party mapped
out.
The patronage of the vice president
consists in the appointment of a secre-
tary, messenger, a telegraph operator
and telegrapher's page. That is all. The
presiding officer of the senate occupies a
handsome room, opening on the senate
lobby, and 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 SEN
ate.
Because of the peculiar character of the
duties of the vice president the daily rou-
tine of his life is very different from that
OF United States senator. His social life
in Washington is just what he chooses to
make It, His invitations would not be
disregarded by any one in official or So
cial life here, but whether he entertain
much or little is a matter purely within
his own pleasure. While certain social
functions are part of the official duties |
OF the president the vice president is free |
to entertain or not, as he sees fit But |
the vice president is sought by many Wis |
itors to the capital. He is one of the /
sights OF the capital, and visitors from 4
Illinois especially do not like to leave |
Washington without having sought an
Introduction 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 questions 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
Tor delivery i'm the senate He Is relieved
rom all committee work, of course and
even the task of presiding over the SEN
ite is rendered an easy one because of
he fact that that body is very docile
one to govern, and is not fraught with
ne perplexing parliamentary problems
hat are constantly occurring i'm the
house of representatives. The fact that
he senate is so largely run by "cour-
esy' makes II an easy body to preside
'Ver. Perhaps no man connected with
he United States senate is so apt to be
'ored as is the vice president. Without
'ower to influence legislation, his Office
eing such that even any suggestion from
Inn would be apt to be regarded as an
nwarranted interference. yet he is
bhged to attend the sessions of the SEN
lie daily, and to recognize this or that ,
ne who happens to have a bill or sug-
estion to make.