Evening star., 1920-03-07
URGE WAY TO DETERMINE
DISABILITY OF PRESIDENT
CONTINUED from First Paee)

tive Rogers that his proposed law
change the Constitution. but would
merely clarity 1t and provide q method
by which the Constitution can be car
ried out.
Representative Madden would have
the responsibility of determining
when disability exists rest upon the
cabinet. who should then make an
open official inquiry. The Madden bill
also authorizes the Secretary of State
to call cabinet meetings for that pur-
pose If disability was found to exist
the Vice President would then be
called on automatically to perform
the duties Of the office as under the
Constitution.
Confidence was expressed by Mr..
Madden that the members OF cabf-
net would be the best judges OF con-
ditions and was not in the least per-
turbed when several members OF the
judiciary committee interrupted him
with questions as to whether or not
the cabinet-as employees and ap-
pointees Of the President-wouldn not
form q biased tribunal. Mr.. Madden
replied that he was not welded 70
his own plan. but desired some action
be Immediately taken and believed the
suggestion he had made would be ef-
fective and could be brought about
in a much shorter time than could
constitutional amendment.
Representative Madden sugges!ed
the, bill should not become enective
affect the present President" In the
course of his argument. he said: The
dictum of the President OF the united
States now is that 1t Is a ueurpatlon
Of presidential authority IL capinet
meetings are called during his disa-
hiiity. NV bill would place the stamp
Of legal authority for the Secretary
Of state to call such meetings ana
not let the country go INTO sta.e
of decay because the President can,
not function" Mr.. MAIDEN 'o1c1 aSe
President from the country and wnat
would happen to the United states
should a President ever become IN
sane. 49,
and cobwebs which surround that
clause Of the Constitution and deter
mine on q person or body OF persons
70 pronounce authoritatively when
disability exists" he said.
***
Representative Macarthur spoke
hriehv on the bill he Is fathering.
This would make disability not only
include physical or mental inaDuIty
to act. but also that absence from the
country for more thaH tniIy u1yo
would constitute such inability. WIN
in the meaning of the Constitution.
Mr.. Macarthur argued that Congress
has full power to designate what au-
thority should be the deciding body.
Congress has been the body to define
and interpret the Constitution he
pointed out. Citing decisions AZ to
what constituted the powers OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
what constituted intoxicating liquor
as under the recent constitutional
anne endment-so Congress-. In his optn-
ion, was authorized to declare what
constitutes inability to act on the
part of the President
Mr.. Macarthur took an opposite stand
to Representative Rogers. for he op-
posed action by two Of the three
branches of government. saying he
believed 1t was unwise for them 70
merge in any way.
wide apart as these four bills seem.
their intent is clearly the same
prompt, safe and authoritative settle-
ment OF the question as to how dis
ability Of the President to act Il to be
None Of the trainers of
these bills and resolutions 10 anxtouo
to figure personally. All they want 10
to have the country safeguarded