The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-09
AN EMERGENCY MAN.
A Day With the Vice President of
the United states.

From the Washington Star
The vice presidency is essentially an Of
flee 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 it's occu-
pant, while at the same time being so ut
terly bereft of influence either to weld pa
tronage or to affect legislation.
The vice presidency requires a man fitted
to fill the highest office under the govern
ment, one whose broad information will
make him equal to coping with any ma
tional question that might come before
congress, and whose information and DO
sition among men would qualify him TO
preside over the conservative branch Of
congress. He is an emergency man. Should
death remove the President, il 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, except in this emergency, he is with
out influence to affect legislation While
the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tiVes assigns all the representatives 10
places on committees, and in that way Vir-
tually determines what legislation shall
be enacted, the Vice President not meine
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
majority, committee assignments are de-
mapped out.
The patronage Of the Vice President con-
sists in the appointment OF a secretary, a
messenger, telegraph operator and a
telegrapher's page. That is all. The pre-
siding 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 Senate.
Because of the peculiar character of the
President he Hafl
routine of his life is very different from
that of United States senator His social
me IN Washington is Just what he chooses
TO make 1t. His invitations 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 fun
ctions are part of the official duties of
the President the Vice President is free
to entertain or not, as he sees ft.
But the Vice President is sought bv
many visitors TO the capitol. He is one
of the sights of the capital, and visitors
from Illinois especially do not like to leave
Washington without having sought an in
PRODUCTION to the Vice President and the
man who is regarded as a presidential
possibility. But the chances of the Vice
President for the nomination at the hande
of the next national convention are ren-
dered smaller because OF the fact that
since his election his hands have been tied
ana ne mas had no opportunity to show
the qualities of a leader of his fellow dem
Gratis. OF course, this fact renders the
Vice President free from all resnonsibiI
ity Tor the acts of his party, although it
is probable that in the minds of the
masses of the people he is regarded as
equally responsible with oil democratic
senators for the acts of the last congress.
me duties of the Vice President do NOT
require him to burn any midnight oil in
the consideration of public questions He
mas ample opportunity to keep himself in
formed on all matters that come before
congress by being a good listener and he
has no occasion to prepare any speecb for
delivery in the Senate. He is relieved
from all committee work, of course and
even the task of presiding over the SEN
ate is rendered an easy one because 81
the fact that that body is a verv dociIe
one to govern, and IS not fraught win
the perplexing parliamentary problems
that are constantly occurring In the House
of Representatives. The fact that tbe
senate IS so largely run by courtesy
Perhaps no man connected with the
United states Senate is so apt to lie bored
as IS the Vice President. Without power
TO influence legislation, his Office holm {,
such that even any suggestion from him
would be apt to be regarded as an unyva r.
ranted Interference he is yet obliged to
and to recognize this or that one who
happens TO have a bill to present or a
suggestion to make.
From u until o'clock is known in the
Senate as 1.-THE morning hour and duripes
that time all the business of introducire,
bills, making reports from Committees
is done. The Vice President is seldom
absent from the chair during the morn
ing hour, but when that expires the
regular business" is taken up. which
practically means continuation Of speak-
ing on the pending bill. Then the Vice
President has an opportunity to leave the
Senate, which he does If there is not in
prospect some very interesting debate
which he wishes to hear. He seeks his
private office, where he frequently holds
a reception, for his friends know fhe
hour when he is at leisure and can see
him. He generally is on hand when tha
Senate adjournS, and then he has nothing
in the nature of official duties to oc-
cupy his attention until the day on which
the Senate is next TO meet