The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-12-24
HAT Tf VICE-pREsIDEuT IS.
AN OFFICE .'ITH0UT DuTiES-WlTH-
OUT tER-Aho WITHOUT
IMPORTANCE.

cordipgly, when John Adams be-
came President, Thomas jefferson
was chosen Vice President. At the
next election, when Thomas Jeffer-
son was chosen, Aaron Burr, who
was not in contemplation at the polls
for the chief place, jeopardized the
choice of Jefferson, and a danger
OF the repetition of this state of
things caused constitutional
amendment to avert it. Under the
practical workings Of the constitu-
tion We have the present anomalous
condition, that the Vice Presidency
is an Office without power and al
most without duties, and conse uent-
ly almost without Importance. His
sole duty, that of presiding over a
Senate in which he has no voice, and,
save in case of tie, no vote, can be,
and often for long period is, dis
charged by some Senator who is
elected as President pro tenn. The
Vice-President is not vested with the
power of appointing the committees,
since, unlike the Speaker of the
House of Representatives. he is not
chosen by the body over which he
presides, and not infre quently is of
a different political party from the
majority of the Senate.
Thus being without power and
practically without duties, the Vice
Presidency offers few inducements
to an able, ambitious man, and the
nomination has often been refused.
This has IN very many instances,
though not always, thrown the nom
ination as a compliment 10 some
man who would not by the nominal
ing convention be considered for a
moment for the Presidency. Yet
,he Vice President has the terrible
potentially of succeeding to the
Presidency in the event of a vacan-
cy. This condition has brought
about some most inconveDient re-
suits. In 1910 John Tyler was nomi-
mated 70 concliate the minority of
the Wing party wac differed widely
on some ma erial points from the
great bulk of the party. The death of
President Harrison, after q short
month in Office. robba d the Wings of
the fruits of their. victory and
brought catastrophe upon them in a
revelation il the policy Of the ad-
ministration. In 1913, after the
nomination of Gen. Taylor, Mr.. Web
ster declined the e-Pre sidency as
beneath him, and thus lost his last
chance of filling his lifelong ambi-
ton, for few months later Mr.. Fill
more became President-a most ex-
cellent man, but one who would
have never been thought of for the
first place Had President Lincoln
died during his first term, 1t may be
seriously doubted if Mr.. Hamlin
would have been satisfactory to his
party or the country, and it is very
certain that Andrew johnson was
not.
1t is not necessary to prolong this
review. While there have been a
few Vice-Presidents who were pos
sible nominees for the Presidency
the rule has been otherwise. As
out of nineteen Presidents so ia,
elected, four have fallen in office
the ratio Of succession fo1 the Vice
Presidency has been more than ont
in FIVE, in fact, over 21 per cent
This opens up serious danger, an(
some plan should be devised to maxi
tbs Vice Presidency more attractive
to men of the first order, by adding
to it's dignity and powers.
Among the plans discussed, tina
of giving the Vlce-President vOic
and vote in the Senate would requlr
constitutional amendment. Nor cal
it be expected that the Senate will
amend its rules to confer on tn
Vice-President the important powe
of appointing committees which i
possessed by the presiding officer o
the House of Representatives, see
ing, as already stated, the Vice-Pres
ident is not chosen by the Senat
and not infrequently belongs to
different political party from ms
jority of that body.
There is, however, an opportunit
to make the Vice-Presidens some
thing more than the mere moders
tor, without voice or vote, of th
upper House and the fifth wheel {
the coach. The subject of inter Stat
Commerce and the regulation Of tn
rates and conduct of inter Stat
, railroads and canals is one of grow
, ing Importance, and is of sufficie1
= interest to the Union at large
justify the selection by the people (
: the chief officer to supervise that in
mense business. The department I
Interstate Commerce" can be or
! ated by statute, without the necess
. ty of constitutional amendmen
; to which department shall be assig
!. ed as bureaux, the Interstate Cor
= merce Commission, the Pacific RAJ
i roads, the Nicaragua canal and &C
lateral matters. The same statu
! can assign to the Vice Presider
:. not as separate Office, but ex-ottici
+ the duty of Secretary of 1nter-Sta
% Commerce with the chief seat in Il
Is cabinet and the right of presiding
# all cabinet meetings in the absen
~ of the President. The importan
- of the duties thus devolved up
him (Which, however, would not
terfere with his brief tour of duty
presiding officer of the Ser ate fol
7 few hours daily during, the sessi
70 of Congress) would make him in il
ID portance to the public only seco
re to the President, and would alwa
s. sec ure a nominee of suffi eient pror
. nence and ability, to be the equal
every respect of the President
r. r. n ominee. Furthermore the Pre-
" dents salary has been raised
by $50 600, with furnished residen
as besides the payment of all expens
u which makes his real cost to the
ed ton near a quarter oe million
on annum, while the salary of the vi
as President has remained at the s
'u- fixed one hundred wears ago of $S, 0