The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-10-23
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
Some restless and energetic critics In
Washington have discovered that the
presidential succession law. which since
President McEinley's tragic death has
been the ohisct OF much careful scru-
tiny. contains certain Aaws which &,
will be the duty of congress at its next
session to repair. According 70 these
critics. says the New York CONNER
c,al, the most serious desec; In the sue
ce.sion act s. is failure 70 define ex-
ac;ly the conditions under which he
power " the al interim president ends
and the tenure Of his successor chos-
en- by special election begins. Thus
it IS argued tina; Il under the holdover
authority ot a secretary of state an
election for president were held In No
vemher. and the resul, Of The vote in
the electorll college were declared. As
usual. on the second Wednesday in
February, some doubt would stil ex-
ist as to the exac, moment when the
new president would qualify, The crit
les OF the law are disposed TO assert
that the new presidents ;ltle would
date not from the day in February on
WI ich the votes were counted in the
presence OF the two houses OF congress.
hut from the 4th Of March following.
Yet as they point out. the succession
ac;. while terminating the acting pres
dents power with the actual election
Of his successor, makes no provision
for a 4th o. March inauguration and
leaves an lnterregnum OF about thrze
weeks in which the functions Of the
presidency are virtually suspended. .
Congress. the critics n the law contend /
viii have to amend its work by max
ing tie acting presidents lease OF pow
er end not on the election but on the .
Of a successor.
We cannot, however, quite admit the
validity Of this ingenious attack on the
present system Of presidential success
sion. The defect in the law Of which
complain. Is made Is in fac, more i'm
aginary tlan substantial. NJ analogy
cau be maintained between the cleo
don and installation OF a president
chosen under ordinary conditions, In
the latter case a 4th Of March inaugu-
ration Is necessary, because there Is an
occupant Of the White House whose la-
gal term does not and can not expire
until noon Of March 4th. But there can
,e no bar to tn qualification OF a pres
dent chosen by special election at any
moment after his title has been declar-
d valid through the acquisscence o.
he two houses Of congress. His ac- Z
ession would shorten no fixed terml and
invade no rights which could possibly
,e claimed by the cabinet officer act
ng as an ad interim substitute
We can therefore see no urgent need J
or such a modification Of the success
lon act as lts critics are now demand =
lg. II congress feels inclined this win
or to make any changes In our pres 7
n: electoral system It will meet far
lore pressing public want by shifting (
he date Of the inaugural ceremony :
rom March to April 80. thus length
ming the present shorter session Of con- 7
ress by eight full weeks and insur.ng
presidential installation under genial
zies and amid surrounding more con-
uclye TO the spIendor and dignity Of
Dr. celebration with which We mark
he transfer Of power from one chief
lagistrate 20 another Such a change
demanded by both reason and sentl-
lert. and any agitation in or out o. !
ongrass tor reforms in our electoral
is 70 be welcomed as forcing .
lie des.re5ll.ty IF this revision Of our ,
olltical calendar more and more into