The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-22

announcement of the vice president s
death to the public, and establishing a
usage which was followed today by
President Mci<inley.
On the morning following Mr.. Hen
bricks death, meetings of such mem
bers OF the house and senate as were in
town were held at the capitol and the
committees from both legislative bodies
were appointed to attend the funeral
services. which were held in Indianap-
oils or the Tuesday following. Nine
teen members were appointed on the
house committee. and the rather I'M
usual number of thirteen from the sen-
ate.
President Cleveland at first express
ed mis- intention TO attend the funeral
but there was an immediate protest
from his advisors, seconded by the
press Of both parties, against his sub
jecting himself to even the slightest
possibility Of an accident. incident TO
travel at a time when there was no
provision for successor in his office
and when his death might have entailed
serious consequences.
After some days President Cleveland
deferred to the advice Of his friends and
remained in Washington. The cabinet
however, attended the funeral in body
and the supreme court adjourned over
till after the services. Pending the
apolis, the most elaborate preparations
were made by the railroad officials for
the safeguarding 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 in Indianapo-
lis at the time of his death, and,
through a singular set of circumstances
no one was in the room with him when
he expired.
The law applicable to the vice presi-
dency was enacted jan Is, 1886, by the
forty-ninth congress, first section. The
main features are as follows:
BE it enacted, ETC., that in case of
removal, death, resignation or inability
of both the president and vice president
state or secretary of the treas
ury, CT secretary of war, or
attorney general, or
postmaster general. or Secre-
tary of the navy, or secretary
of the interior shall act as president
until the disability of the president or
vice president is removed, or presi-
dent shall be elected"
The law further provides that when
one Of the above cabinet officers sue
ceeds TO the presidency he shall call a
special session of congress. A proviso
limits the succession to those who
would be eligible to the presidency I'M
der the terms of the constitution, and
who have been appointed with the adj
vice and consent of the senate. The
effect of the law is not to provide sue
cession to the vice presidency but mere
ly TO ensure a succession to the presi-
dency.
By the death of Mr.. Hobart, Senator
William p. Frye of Maine becomes
president pro tempore and will dis
charge all the duties of the vice presi-
dent as presiding officer of the senate.
The senate rules specifically provide
that no election is necessary at the be-
ginning of the session. Senator Frye
accordingly will continue as presiding
officer till the end of President McKin-
ley's administration unless he chooses
to resign or the senate wishes to elect
another senator to the office.
A curious coincident of the death of
the vice president is found in the fact
that of the six vice presidents who have
died in office, four died within a few
days of the same month in the year,
the death of Mr.. Hobart being the 21st
of November, 1899; that of Mr. Wilson
the 22d of November, 1875; that of Ell
bridge Gerry, Nov. %, 1874; that of
Hendricks. Nov. %, 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.