The Washington herald., 1915-09-22
HISTORY BUILDERS.
When Arthur Presided Over the
Senate.
Tomorrow: 4 New Party Leader.
Written expressly for The Washington HeraId.)
ny DIR. r.. j. EDwARDS

Written expressly for The Washington HeraId)
By DIR. T.. J. EDWARDS.
when Gen. Arthur was inaugurated
Vice President of the United States,
March 4. 1881. he was much better pre-
pared for service in the Senate Cham
her as presiding officer than many per-
sons thought possible said the late
Col. George Bliss to me at time when
ih" latter was speaking of Arthur's diff
cult and yet on the whole successful
administration as President.
After the Presidential election in 1850.
Gen. Arthur devoted great deal Of
time to the study of parliamentary rules
as he had n small digest of the rulings
in the Senate upon parliamentary Ques-
tons prepared. He was not accustomed
to parliamentary procedure and he fell,
therefore. that he should thoroughly
qualify himself so that he could meet
that responsibility.
I'm addition to that Gen Arthur Went
to Washington several days before rne
inauguration. He spent good deal
Of time in little room which opened
upon the press gallery and from that
convenient place watched carefully the
proceedings upon the floor OF the Senate
He also made it n point to get acquainted
with those of the Senators whom he did
not already know. He took an especial
liking to Senator Teller. of Colorado.
who gave him some valuable advice and
some information relating 10 the personal
characteristics of some of the Senators.
When Arthur took the gavel of the
Vice President he had only two purposes
in mind. One was to he absolutely i'm
partial if 1t were necessary for him
to make a ruling. relying also upon the
parliamentary clerk. who sat just BE-
meath the Vice Presidents desk. quietly
to coach him in case he were in doubt.
The other purpose he had in mind was
purely political. The Senate at the time
Arthur began to preside over that body
as Vice President was controlled by the
Democratic party. There was no preSi-
dent pro tenn In accordance with a GUS
tom which had prevailed. the Senate
did not elect a president pro tcm unless
the Vice President vacated the cha r
For instance, the Vice President might
can senator to the chair during his
temporary absence. but if he were to Ne
away several days he notified tine
Senate and then that body elected the
president pro tenn Before the law Was
changed-which was done during Ar
thurs admInistration-the president pro
tenn would have succeeded to the PrCsi-
dency in case both President and Vice
President died or resigned.
Gen. Arthur felt that in view of the
fact that the Senate was Democratic
he should not vacate the Vice President S
chair excepting for few moments. for
If he did the Senate would elect Demo-
cratic president pro tenn. and in the &C.
mote contingency of the death or res!g-
ma ton of both President and Vice Pres,-
dent the Democratic president pro teri
would have become President of the
United States. While Arthur was Vice
President he did not leave the chair
excepting for a few moments He served
in the Vice Presidents chair during the
special session OF the Senate in the
spring OF 1881. In September of that
year, by reason Of the death Of Press.
dent Garfield. Arthur became Presidc:,t
and had he died between September 10
and mid -Octobe. there would have been
no one to take executive charge of he
government.
Copyright, 1915. by +. ]. Edwards. All rights re
Ssred.D
Tomorrow-Dr. Edwards will tell Of
"A Town With Two Official Sundays