The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-05-15
AN EMERGENCY MAN
a Dag With the Vice President Of
the United States
n Great Office Without mflu-
ence or Patronage.

Vihlt OF AlHHf1s NO olhef ONCE un=
der the government, no highly os.
teemed a. that Of the vice president Of
the United States, has such lofty pos
sibilitiea for is ocoupa Il, while AZ the
same time being go utterly boroit Of
iuauonoe either to WELD patronage or
TO affect legislation.
The vice presidency requires a man
fitted to ON the highest Office under
the government, one whose broad in-
formation will make him equal to cop
ing with any national question that
might come before Congress, and
whose information and position among
men would qualify him TO preside
over tho conservative branch Of Con-
gross He is an emergency man.
Should death remove the president, It
is be who is called upon to occupy the
White House. Should there DO a tie
in the vote Of the Senate, he, then, has
the deciding vote. but, except in this
emergency, he is without inaence to
affect Legislation. While the speaker
Of the House Of Representatives as
signs all the representatives to places
on committees, and in that way yir.
tually determines what legislation
shall be enacted, the vice president,
not being a member Of the Senate, has
nothing to do with the formation of
committees, and is not even admitted
10 the caucuses Of his party, in which,
if that party has a majority, committee
assignments are determined and the
policy Of the party is then mapped
out
The patronage of the vice president
consists in the appointment OF sec
rotary, a messenger, a telegraph oper-
ator and a telegrapher's page. That
is all. The presiding officer of the
senate occupies a handsome room,
opening on the senate lobby, and be
is accorded all the respect which goes
with his high Office, the chief function
Of which is to preside over the de-
alterations of the United States SEN
ate.
Because Of the peculiar character OF
the duties of the vice president the
daily routine of his life is very differ
ent from that of United States Sena-
tor. 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 social 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 presi-
dent is free to entertain or not, as he
sees fit s,s7-,g;-
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 mat
ters that come before Congress by
being a good listener and he has no
occasion to prepare any speech for de-
livery in the Senate. He is relieved
from all committee work, of course,
and even the 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 il
not fraught with the perplexing par
liamentary problems that are CON
stantly occurring in the House of Rep
resentatives. The fact that the Sen
ate is SO largely run by courtesy
makes it an easy body to preside over.
Perhaps no man connected with the
United States Senate is SO apt to BE-
bored as is the vice president. With
out power to influence legislation, hit
Office being such that even any sug-
gestion from him would be apt to be
regarded as an unwarranted interior
ence, he is yet obliged to attend tn,
sessions Of the Senate daily, and tC
recognize this or that one who hap
pens to have a bill to present or a sug
ton to make.
From 10 until 2 clock is known ii
the Senate as "the morning hour,
and during that time all the business
of introducing bills, making reports
from committees, presenting petitions