The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-26
To Reclaim The
Vice Presidency



THE regret expressed in many quar-
ters that man of Governor
- Roosevelt's energy and usefulness
should be buried in the office of vice
president for four years suggests two
thoughts-one, that Mr.. Roosevelt is
not the kind of man to remain buried,
even though the office may carry with
it no authority; the other, that the
office of vice president ought to be
made by law something very different
from what it IS. The original plan of
electng the president and vice presi-
dent shows that the trainers OF the
constitution expected the electors to
choose men for vice presidents fully
capable of discharging the duties of
president. Each elector was author
lied to vote for two candidates, and
the one receiving the larger number
of votes was declared president, and
the one receiving the next higher num-
Der Gf a majority of the whole num-
ber) was declared vice president. In
case of a tie, the house of represen-
tatives was empowered to select the
president from the persons having an
equal number and (majority) of votes.
If no person had a majority the house
chose the president from the five high
est on the list. In case of q tie for
vice president, after the choosing of
president, the senate was empowered
to choose the vice president.
%
There was no trouble about the first
or second elections, when Washington
was chosen president and Adams vice
president; but at the third election
| Adams, Federalisr, was elected presi-
dent, and Jefferson, Democrat (old
name Hepublican), vice president. At
/ the fourth election a grave danger ap-
peared. Party lines were more sharply
drawn, with the result that jefferson
and Burr, Democrats (old name Re-
publicans), had an equal number of
votes. The election was thrown into
/ the house, and there the Federalists
tried to elect Burr over Jefferson. The
attempt failed, but led to a revision of
the constitution, and the adoption of
the present rule for separate votes for
the Office of president and vice presi-
dent. Eut this rule embodied in the
constitution has led to another evil.
Too little attention is given to the vice
presidential office, which has neither
power nor patronage, and inferior men
are frequently selected for the vice
presidency.
The sole duty of the vice president
under the constitution is to preside
over the senate, where he has no vote
except in a case of tie; except that he
is to act as president in case OF the
death, resignation or inability of the
president to serve. There is, however
the best of reasons why the vice presi'
dent should be an active executive Of
ficer. He should attend all cabinet
meetings; be recognized as a presi'
Dental adviser, and thus be kept thor
oughly familiar with the operations ol
the administration, and ready to TAKE
the place of the president on an In
stant's notice. He should also serve a'
acting president during the temporary
absence of the president from the sea-
of government, whenever commissioned
thus to act by the president. 1t woulC
be desirable TO have the constitution
itself amended so as to enlarge th'
duties of the vice president in SOM
such manner; but, in the absence o
any law upon the subject, there q