The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-02

judges from enjoining labor unions from
going on strike. There may be some sup
Elemental antitrust legislation but the con-
Sensus Of opinion is that the present
statutes should be fully tested before they
are amended.
Probably no bill TO be considered is OF
more general intesest throughout the United
States than that to protect the President.
The measure that probably will be passed
was the one prepared by Senator's Hoar and
Fairbanks. and Representatives Jenkins,
Overstreet and De Almond in conference on
the part of the judiciary committees Of the
Senate and House. The bill prescribed the
death penalty for the killing of the Pres
ident or Vice President OF the United States.
or any officer on whom the duties of Pres
ident devolved by the Constitution and the
law. Attempt to cause the death OF any OF
these persons was made punishable by
death or, at the discretion OF the court, i'm
prisonment for no less than ten years. The
bill further provides that any one within
the Jurisdiction OF the United States who
should aid, abet, advise or counsel the KILL
ing of the President or Vice President, or
other officers upon whom the powers Of the
President would devolve. or who should
counsel the killing of the sovereign or chief
magistrate of any foreign country or who
should conspire with any person TO accom-
plish the same should be deemed a prin.
cipal offender. Persons who aided In the
escape of any one guilty OF the foregoing
offenses should be punished as a principal:
Any person who advocates the propriety
or necessity Of killing the head OF any civ
ilized nation or Who openly justified such
killing should be fined not more than 5000.
with Imprisonment from one to twenty
years. No person who opposed organized
society or who was affiliated with any so
ciety opposing IL should be permitted TO
enter the United States or any place
subject to the Jurisdiction thereof, and no
such person should be naturalized or made
a citizen of the United states. 80
This bill was bitterly fought, and finally
failed at the close Of the session. The
question viii be again considered this win
ter. In the closing hours OF the Fifty
seventh Sc mt ; G9dngrsss Senator aoas ray Sna, naa.ce
that, although the pending legislation
might not be consummated. the bill ulti.
renewed matssy S i@petuI p@ viii be given the efforts
by the recent visits or cranks 10 the Wnite
House.
Another matter of perhaps more prac-
teal Importance, which Congress UNI
doubtedly will consider this winter, is the
succession to the presidency In certain con-
tingencies, for which there are now no
provisions. The Constitution recites that
In the event of the removal of a President
from Office by reason OF death, resignation
or inability. the Vice President shall sue
coed him, and that in case OF the removal
of both, Congress has declared by law
what officer shall then act as President
1t makes no provision for the event OF the
removal OF a President-elect. There Is an
interval of nearly two months between the
casting OF the electoral vote In January
and the inauguration In March. what
would happen IL a President-elect should
die in the February before inauguration
Who would be inaugurated on March 4?
President-elect." Probably this would be
the case, but the Constitution does not say
so. 1t merely makes an actual Vice Presi-
dent eligible in case of the removal OF an
actual President. When Horace Greeley
died before the Electoral College met, Its
members did not feel bound 10 vote Tor
of Indiana. received A. votes. Brown Isl
Jenkins, of Georgia, ? and David Davis. ot
illinois. l. Three Georgia electors Voted
for Greeley. although he was dead. Their
votes were thrown out by Congress
While this experience by no means tallies
with the contingency described, since the
plainly empowered 10 decide disputed Ques-
tons. 1t reveals something OF the confusion
that might follow the death OF a Presidents
The question also arises. what would
happen IL both President-elect and Vice
President-elect were removed, as by such
alton OF President Lincoln was a partg
Neither the Constitution nor the law makes
any provision whatever Tor the succession
of the judiciary committee. has urged an
amendment to give Congress the power to
prescribe by law for the succession In
such cases. The proposal was originally
made some years ago by Senator Frye at
the instance OF his constituents Senator
Hoar secured the passage OF resolutions by
the Senate without opposition two years
ago, but the House never acted on them.
The Democrats are expected 10 begin
talking politics from the moment the gavel
| falls in both houses OF Congress. They will
harp on the tariff. finance. department
scandals End the trusts. The Republicans
are prepared 10 meet them on all OF these
questions. JOHN T.. MONK.
! 49,, ,tLo Me- A,,t,,,s No. p~-