The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-22
.GREAT WAVE OF INDIGNATION
OVER ADMIRAL DEWEYS ACTION
Wild RumOB Of Scandal Circulated on Streets Of Washington
and the Hero is Publicly Kissed.

lHdl trlDuHdl generally Expressed tnein-
selves as very confident that 1t would be
SO.
Owing to the fact that the house of rep
resentatives is without a speaker, no ar
rangements with reference to the house
committee were made today. General Hen
derson, who will be the next speaker, tele-
graphed to Major Mcdowell, the clerk of
the house at his home at Sharon. Pa, and
Major Mcdowell is expected here tonight.
Upon his arrival he will consult General
Henderson and other representatives who
are in the city and a committee will be ap-
pointed to attend the funeral.
Quo st on of Succession
The death of vice-President Hobart nat
urally recalls the death of Vice-President
Hendricks, who expired suddenly of paraly-
sis of the heart November rs, 1885.
AT the time the question of the success
sion to the vice-presidency had not been
settled by law, although Senator Hoar's bill
providing for the presidential succession
through the cabinet had been submitted on
December 4, 1888, and had remained un-
acted on.
The news of Mr.. Hendricks death was
received in Washington late on the after
noon of November 25. President Cleveland
was at dinner when the news was brought
to him by Private Secretary Lamont No
tices were sent at once to all tine members
of lJhe cabinet, and a special cabinet meet
ing was held that night.
President Cleveland's first act was to dis
patch telegram of coincidence to Mrs.
Hendricks, after which a proclamation was
prepared making an official announcement
of the vice-president's death to the public,
establishing usage which was followed to-
day 10y President Mckinley.
On the morning following Mr.. Hendricks
death, a meeting of such members of tLle
house and senate as were in town was he'd
at the capitol, and committees from boon
legislative branches were appointed to at
tend the funeral services, which were held
at indianapolis on Tuesday following.
Nineteen members were appointed on the
house committee and the rather unusual
number of tGalrteen from the senate.
President Cleveland at first expressed his
iritention OF attending the funeral, but there
was an immediate protest from all his ad-
visers, seconded by the press of both par
ties against his subjecidng cgimsef to the
slight possibilities of an accident incident to
travel at ,.Lle time when theCe was pro-
vision for successor in his Office and when
his death might have entailed serious con-
sequences.
After some days THE president deferred
to the advice of his friends and remained in
Washington. The cabinet, however, attend
ed the funeral lin a body, and the supreme
court adjourned over until after the serv-
ices
Pending uhe presidents decision not to
&c to Indianapolis the most elaborate prep
arationS were made by the railroad officials
for the safe guarding GU O1ts train in case
the journey should be made, special track
walkers, pilot engines and THE Nike being
detailed to Insure the safety of the whole
route
The vice president was in Indianapolis at
the time of his death, and through singu-
lar set of circumstances no one was in the
room with him when lhe expired
Enactment of the Law
The law applicable to the viee-presidency
was enacted January 10, 1886, by the Forty
ninth congress during the first session. The
main features are as follows:
BE it enacted ETC., That in case of re-
moval, death, resignation or inability, or
both, the president and vice-president of
the United States, the secretary of state, or
Secretary of the treasury, or
Secretary of war, or
Attorney general, or
Postmaster general, or
Secretary of the navy, or
Secretary of the interior, sail act as
president until the disability of the presi-
dent or vice-president is removed or a
president shall be elected"
The law further provides that when one
of the above cabinet officers succeeds to the
presidency he shall call a special session of
congress- A proviso limits the succession
to those who would be eligible to the pres
idency under the terms of the constitution,
and who have been appointed with the ad-
vice and consent of the senate.
The effect of the law is not to provide a
succession to the vice-presidency, but mere
ly to ensure succession to the presidency
senator FIR e win Preside Over enate
BY the death of Mr.. Hobart Senator Will
liam p. Frye, of Maine, becomes president
pro tempore of the senate. and will dis
charge all the duties of the vice-president
as presiding officer of that body
The senate rules specifically provide that
no election Is necessary at the beginning of
the session. Senator Frye accordingly will
continue as presiding officer until the end
of President McKinley's administration un-
less he chooses to resign or the senate
wishes to elect another senator to the Of
flee.
curious incident of the death of Vice.
President Hobart Is found in the fact that
of the SIX Vlce-preSlQentS VINO nave uleu III
office. four died within a few days of the
same day of the month in the year of their
death, the death of Mr.. Hobart being the
21st of November, 1S99 that of Mr.. Wilson,
the 22d of November, 1875; that of Elbridge
Gerry, November 49, 1914, and that of
Thomas Hendricks, November 25, 1885. The
other two vice presidents who died in
office were Clinton and King. The former
died April 20, 1872 and the latter, April II,
1858.
From dispatches received by Colonel
Bright, the sergeant-at-arms of the senate,
there will be large attendance of MEM
bers of that body at the funeral About
thirty senators have replied to the telegram
at the direction of Speaker Pro Tenn Frye
to attend. These are:
Ga1linger, w. A. Clarke. Foraker, Bacon,
Depew, McLaurin, Harris, Allison, Fari-
banks Hanna, Hawley, ]. X. Jones, Heit-
field, Kyle, Burrows, Wetmore, Lindsey,
Wolcott, Sewell, Tillman. Mason, Scott and
Kenny.
Clerk Mcdowell, Of the house of represen-
CONTINUED on Second Page.