The evening times., 1899-11-21

comes President of the Senate. 1t was
said today that no action of the Senate
is necessary to fill the vacancy.
1t is plainly provided in the
Constitution that in the absence of the Vice
President the President pro temporr shall
act, and Mr.. Frye has already been elect
ed to that office.
- Beyond presiding over the sessions OF
the Senate the acting Vice President Will
have no duties TO perform as the vice
President has none. He serves on no COM
mittees and has no functions but to preside
and TO vote only in case of tie Mr. Frye
--is now the Chairman of the Committee on
Commerce. but he will in addition to this
take possession of the beautiful Vice Presi-
dents room in the Senate lobby, ard there
act as the official head of the Senate.
Mr. Hobart made a surprisingly efficient
and popular President of the Senate in view
of his lack of Congressional experience. He
learned easily" an old SENATOR was wont to
say of him, "and adapted himself to the
situation with remarkable quickness of ap-
probation
Mr.. Frye has had long experience in
Congress and knows parliamentary rules
as well as the amenities Of Senatorial life.
and so will officiate acceptably to Senators
of all political parties as Mr.. Hobart has
done. In one other particulsr Mr.. Frye
will ably fill Mr.. Hobart's place. That is as
confidential friend and political advisor OF
President Mckinley. The President and
Senator Frye are warm personal friends
which has been demonstrated on many oc-
-easions. notably, when Mr.. Frye, when in
his fishing camp in Maine, was chosen as
member Of the Philippine Commission.
Since the formation of the Government
fourteen Senator's have been acting Vice
President, by reason of the death OF the
duly elected Vice President or his eleva-
ticn to the Presidency. The list is as fol-
lows: d
william II. Crawford OF Georgia. by rea-
son CT the death of Vice President George
Clinton: John Gaillard of South Carolina
on the death Of Elbridge Gerry; Samuel
L. Southsrd of New Jersey. and William
P. Mangum CT North Carolina on the sue
cession OF John Tyler to the Presidency;
D. R. Atchison and Jesse d. Bright of In
diana on the death Of William r. King;
Lafayette S. Fcstcn of Connecticut, and
Benjamin F. Wade of Ohio on the accession
of Andrew johnson to the Presidency;
Thomas W. Ferry of Michigan on the death
OF Henry Wilson; Thomas F. Bayard OF
Delaware. David Davis Of Illinois. and
George +. Edmunds of Vermont on the ac
cession OF Chester A. Arthur to the Presi-
dency. and John Sherman of Ohio. and
John J. ingalls, OF Kansas on the death OF
Thomas A. Hendricks.
Vice President Hobart's close relations
with President Mckinley were well UNDER
stocd. Nc Vice President since the found
ation of the Government. if history is to
be believed had been such a factor in the
Administration. In recent years at least.
the Vice President was absolutely ignored.
but President Mckinley early in his term
sought the advice and placed the highest
value upon Mr.. Hobart's knowledge OF
public men and public affairs. Many OF
the most important appointments in the
public service notably that of John W.
Griggs. to be Attorney General. were made
at Mr.. Hcbart's sole suggestion. He was
the Presidents representative in securing
the resignation Of Secretary Alger and in
many CT the most important acts of the
Administration Mr.. Hobart was the mo-
tive pOwer.
Early in the life of the Mckinley Ad-
ministration Mr.. Hobart leased the charm
ing old Tayioe house on Lafayette Square
a stones throw from the White House. and
which had recently been rebuilt by former
Senator Den Cameron. who occupied il as
his private residence. 1t was promptly
christened. The Cream White House, be-
cause OF Its color. ana there was given a
series of dinners and receptions. the l:y-
ishness of which were exceeded only by
those that marked the political reign Of
William C. Whitney, in the old Frelying-
husen house, when member of the Cleve-
land Cabinet: Calvin S. Brice at the Cor
cOran house. now leased by Chauncey NJ.
Depew, and Levi =. Morton. while Vice
President in the Harrison Administration.
The Hobarts took the lead in all official
social entertainments. They were promi-
nent at White House functions. and the
President often dined at the Cream White
House" and went in and out informally as
though it were a second home to him.