The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-22

the funeral. The law applicable to the
vice presidency was enacted January
10, 1885, by the forty-ninth congress,
first session.
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 of the
United States, the secretary of state or
the secretary of the treasury, or the
secretary of war; or the attorney gem
eral, or the postmaster general or the
secretary of the navy, or the secretary
of the interior shall act as president
until the disability Of the president or
vice president is removed or president
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 pro-
viso 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 pro-
vide q succession to the vice presi-
dency, but merely to ensure a success
sion to the presidency. By the death
of Mr.. Hobart, Senator William P.
tempore of the Senate, and will dis
charge all the duties of the vice presi-
dent as presiding officer Of that body
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 coincidence is found in the
fact that of the six vice presidents
who have died in office, four died in
the same month Of the year and on
days of the month that are not far
apart-the date Of Mr.. Hobart's death
being the 21st of November. 1899; that
of Mr. Wilson, the 22d of November,
1875; that of Elbrldge Gerry, November
%, 1914, and that Of Hendricks. Novem-
Der "a, 1885. The other two vice pres
idents who died in office were Clinton
and King. The former died April 20,
1872, and the latter April H. 1858.
Gen. Henry c. Corbin, Gen. Wesley
Merritt. Gov. Wolcott of Massachu-
sets, Gen. Sickles, Judge McKenna
and the grand encampment 1. o. o. F.
of Indiana, in all, about 500 MESA ges,
of sympathy, were received by Mrs.
Hobart
Although many regarded Mr.. Ho-
bart's Illness in the latter part of the
summer as serious, it was not until
late in October that his family and
friends began to despair of his life,
Mr.. Hobart was then informed of the
fatal character of his malady-dilated
right heart, due to myocarditis-and he
remarked: well, if it must be that
am to 60 I may as well be resigned
to my fate"
On the morning of Oct. 81 it was
thought that the end had come, but
the patient rallied and for more than a
week continued to improve and to eat
solid food with a relish.
Three days ago, however, his appetite
failed, and he gradually grew weaker
and weaker. He said few hours be-
fore he became unconscious: 81 know
that my time is nearly up, but death is
welcome to me-
Mrs. Hobart remained in the room
to the end, and after her husbands
death until she and her son, who was
with her, were taken away by friends.
The last change for the worse in the
vice presidents illness was observed
yesterday, when he was seized with
weak spell. 1t was thought for a time
that he would come out of this one
He did, but he was very weak, and it
was pam W NC SCSli that ilt was SILK
ing. He rallied again, however, and
tried to be cheerful, but toward mid
night his condition was beyond hope
DR.. Newton called Mrs. Hobart and
the vice presidents son, and with the
nurse, they gathered closer to the bed
side of the dying man. Now and again
the patient rallied, and in these mo-
ments spoke to his wife and son. What
he said is known only to them Short
ly before IL o'clock the vice president
was again stricken with an attack of
angina pectoris, and following this, he
lapsed into a state of Unconscious from
which he never again emerged