The record-union., 1899-11-22

a DOQy 10 paterson. SerSeanI-aI-AfInS
Bright has engaged a special train to
convey the President and his Cabinet
and the United States Supreme Court
to Paterson. The train will leave
Washington over the Pennsylvania
railroad at Z O'Clock Saturday and ar
rive on the return at II p. m.
The death of Vice President Hobart
naturally recalls the death of Vice
President Hendricks, who expired sud-
denly of paralysis of the heart on No
vember o. 1885 At the time the ques-
ton of the succession to the Vice Pres
idency had not been settled by law, al
though Senator Hoar's bill providing
for the Presidential succession through
the Cabinet had been submitted on De-
cember f. 1888, and had remained un-
acted upon.
The news of Mr.. Hendricks death
was received in Washington late on the
afternoon of November 2oth. Presi-
dent Cleveland was at dinner when the
news was brought to him by Secretary
Lamont. Notices were sent at once to
all the members of the Cabinet, and a
special Cabinet meeting was held that
night. President Cleveland's first act
was to dispatch a telegram of condo
lence to Mrs. Hendricks, after which
an official announcement of the Vice
Presidents death to the public, and es-
tablishing a usage, which was followed
to-day by President Mckinley. On the
morning following Mr.. Hendricks
death meetings of such members of the
House and Senate as were in town were
AI<l
tees from both legislative bodies were
appointed to attend the funeral ser
vices, which were held at Indianapolis
on the Tuesday following. Nineteen
members were appointed on the House
Committee, and the rather unusual
number of thirteen from the Senate.
President Cleveland at first ex-
pressed his intention to attend the
funeral, but there was an Immediate
protest from his advisers, seconded by
the press of both parties, against his
subjecting himself to even the slightest
possibility of an accident incident to
travel, at a time when there was no
provision for a successor in his office,
and when his death might have entailed
serious consequences. After some days
President Cleveland deferred to the ad
vice of his friends, and remained in
Washington. The Cabinet, however, at
tended the funeral in a body, and the
Supreme Court adjourned over till after
the services. Pending the Presidents s
decision not to go to indianapolis, the
most elaborate preparations were made
by the railroad officials for the safe
guarding of his train in case the
journey should be made, special track
walkers, pilot engines and the like
being detailed to insure the safety of
the whole route
The Vice President was at Indianapo-
lis at the time of his death. ana,
through singular set of circumstances,
no one was in the room with him when
he expired
The law applicable to the Vice Pres
idency was enacted January Is, 1886,
by the Forty ninth Congress, first ses-
sion. The main features are as fol-
lows:
BE it enacted, ETC., that in case of
removal, DEATH resignation or inability
Of both the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, the Secre-
tary of State or y Secretary Of
the Treasury, or Secretary of
War; or Attorney General, or
Postmaster General, or
Secretary of the Navy, or
Secretary of the Interior, shall act as
President until the disability of the
President or Vice President is removed
or President shall be elected"