Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-08

ox,octed that the Senate will amend It's
10 70 confer on the Vice-President
the important power OF appointing COM
mittees. which Is possessed by the IRE
siding officer of the House OF kepreseh-
tatives. seeing. as already stated, the
Vice-President is not chosen by the sen
ate and not infrequently belongs 10
different political party from a majority
Of that body.
There IS. however, an opportunity 10
make the Vice-President something more
than the mere moderator without voice
or vote, of the upper house and the hlth
wheel Of the coach. The subject or IN
terstate commerce and the regulation or
the rates and conduct OF interstate rail-
roads and canals is one Of growing I'M
portance. and is OF sufficient interest 10
the Union at large to justify the selec-
ton by the people OF the chief officer to
supervise that immense business. The
Department Of Interstate Commerce
can be created by statute, without the
necessity of a constitutional amendment
TO which department shall be assigned as
bureaux, the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the Pacific railroads, the
Nicaragua canal. and collateral matters.
The same statute can assign to the Vice
President, not as a separate office. but
terstate Commerce, with the chief seat
in the Cabinet, and the right Of presiding
at all Cabinet meetings in the absence
of the President. The Importance OF the
duties thus devolved upon him (Which,
however would not interfere with his
brief tour OF duty as presiding officer or
the Senate for few hours daily during
the session OF CongresD, would make him
In Importance TO the public only second
to the President and would always
secure a nominee OF sufficient prominence
and ability TO be the equal in every re-
spect of the presidential nominee.
Furthermore, the Presidents salary has
been raised to $4,000. with furnished
residence. besides the payment Of all ex-
penses which makes his real cost TO the
nation near a quarter Of a million per an
mum, while the salary OF the Vice-Presi-
dent has remained at the sum fixed one
hundred years ago, OF $500, without resi-
dence or any appointing power, beyond a
private secretary, which is possessed now
by every member of each house OF Con-
gress. The gulf fxed between the first
and second officer OF the government Is
too great. The expenses lavished on the
President can be materially curtailed,
while II the Vice-President is vested ex-
ofiicio with the supervision OF the inter
state commerce OF the country, II will be
necessary that he. as well as the Presi-
dent. should reside at the capital, and he
should be furnished with a public resi-
| dence and his salary augmented out of
a portion Of the sums which can be cur
tailed from the annual appropriations
voted for the attendance upon the Presi-
| dent
BY measure Of this kind the Vice.
| President can be made really useful and
an integral part OF the government, Sc
cond only to the President In importance
and IL would justify an appropriate sal
airy. This will always secure the nomina-
| ton as vice-President OF men OF the
same shade of political opinion as the
President and of like prominence and
ability. Should there be vacancy IN
the Office Of Vice-President by his pro-
motion. death, removal. or resignation
the statute should In that event confer
upon the President the power to appoint
a secretary OF interstate commerce pre-
tenn. subject to confirmation by the SEN
ate. like other secretaries. but possessing
the premiership OF the Cabinet. with the
right of presiding at Cabinet meetings In
| the absence Of the President In priority
| TO the Secretary OF State and others
! In the order now presented by. Law.