The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-02
VICE PRESIDENT
 WILL STAND PAT
Nv HOLLAND

K,
 the day that George w. WickershaH' who was Attorney General in the admin istration of President Taft, spoke to the council on federal relations respecting the automatic transfer of presidential authority to the Vice President whiie President Wilson is absent in Europe Vice President Marshall was reported to have said for publication that he would under no circumstances assume the duties of the presidential office ex' cept in case of the death or resignation of the President unless he received the decision of a competent court asserting his authority under the constitution Tor action of that kind.
 These two statements, one made by republican and lawyer of recognize, ability. and the other by the Vice Presi- dent himself clearly indicates that pup lie attention IS now centered to some ex- tent upon this important question
 NeveR has there been any precedent by which action of this kind might be determined. When President William Henry Harrison died within month after his inauguration the Vice fresl- dent John Tyler, assumed the duties or the office. But there was much discussio' in Congress and out of 1t respecting the precise relation the Vice President pore to the presidency. Many of the able law yers of that day were persuaded that Mir Tyler should be regarded as merely acting President in virtue of the choice by the people of him as Vice President Tyler, however, did not hesitate, but as stunned the duties and title Of President and no contest was ever made based upon his rights to assume the title or Presi- dent as well as the duties of the or fee
 < When President James A, Garenid lay mortally i'll in the White House m the summer of 1881 question similar to that which has been raised was earnestly dis- c,ssed by the cabinett, although not at that time and not since was any infor- nation given to the public of this dis- cussion. But one of the members Of that cabinet. the late Thomas h. James. stated, half confdentially, that some or the members of the cabinet believed tna' the time would come when the Vice Pres ident, Chester A. Arthur, should assume the duties of the presidential oifice. Inat view was taken because President Gar field was utterly unable himself to meet those duties He was almost moribund for three months, Suppose question in- yolying the granting of pardon on the best reasons to one sentenced to death were to be raised. President Gar field could not thus act. Suppose sud den and dangerous emergency should arise He could not act.
 ARTHUR SAID NO
 When the Vice President. General Ar thur. was informed of these earnest dis cussions in the cabinet he caused the cobinet to be informed that under no circumstances would be assume the du- ties If the office unless he received positive mandate of the supreme court. Furthermore, the courts should not De approached unless q vitally important emergency arose. The cabinet might have held this question in abeyance had 1t not been for a remark by Wayne Mac Veagh, the Attorney General He spoke in his characteristic curt and somewhat sarcastice way, saying: But If Arthur assumes the duties of the office and be- comes the President in fact, how are we ever to get him out of the ofnce, even l if General Garfield should recoser!' In that way MacVeagh put an end for ! time to the suggestion that Arthur be called to assume the duties of the Presi- dent. As no emergency did arise which entailed the personal action of the Presi' dent, the question was not again dls- cussed by the cabinet.
 MT Wickershams s opinion, while it may 1 be good constitutional law. nevertheless | Is to be of no avail since Vice President Marshall asserts that nothing but a mandate of the court will justify him
 during President Wilson's absence In as sunlng the duties of the presidential of flee Nevertheless this is regarded as among the perplexing questions which have arisen since 1t is known that Pres ident Wilson would go to Europe. None has occasioned more discussion. espe- cially among lawyers. than this.
 WHAT GREAT BRITAIN WANTS It was recently stated in this colmur that Great Britain Is to receive from tht United States $65 in payment for ths transportation of each American soldier across the sea in English vessels. It has later been learned that while our owr government is willing to pay as much as
 $6 for each soldier, Great Britain ha. ] let it be known that the feeling there 1. that as much as $i30 should be paid or 1 this account There has followed discus ] sion and to some extent bargaining tn, United States not yielding the point Great Britain not accepting $65. The pre- sumption is that by compromise som'
 sum between s65 and s1S0 vii Ire accepted
 This will mean credit for C.eat RsitaiI laeainst the credits she has secured II this country, which in the aggregate vii
 amount to a good many million dollars,
 This mornini; communication Wa