Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-24

their vote for him. thus cutting down
the nominal republican strength, and
the republicans would be further
aWay than ever from the necessary
twenty-five votes. So it may easily
come to an impasse.
The strict party vote during the
past week by the committee having
before it the Bloom Chandler con-
tested election case emphasizes an
other factor. New York now stands
republicans. If Bloom is unseated it /.
would switch. New York to a, repub-
lican vote. Another contested cleo
ton case in New York Is that OF
Henry Frank against La Guardia. II
La Guardia is unseated it would
switch New York back democratic.
A third contested New York seat is
that of Ansorge against Weller. If
Weller is unseated it would switch
New York back republican. This is
one reason why such intense parti-
san interest is being taken in these
contested election cases.
State Reapportfonment.
Another element that might enter
into the situation is reapportionmeut
of representation among the several
states under the 1920 census. As
things now stand, there are sixteen
states which are proportionately en-
titled to from one to four additional.
whose representation would be re-
duced. REINFORCEMENT would af-
feet the representation of these
states in the electoral college and
might change the vote of the state
in case the election of President is
thrown into the House. This may be
one reason why reapportionment
bill is not likely to be passed by the
present Congress.
Having shown how an impasse
msh be Te in the H HGgse Ds she
pens?' Article IL of the Constitution
provides: And If the House of Rep
resentatiyes shall not choose a Pres
ident whenever the right of choice
shall devolve upon them before the
fourth day Of March next following,
then the Vice President shall act as
President, as in the case of the death
or other constitutional disability OF
the President"
And note that this time limit OF
March Is a. matter of only about
two weeks after the House begins to
count the vote on the second We'd
nesday in February.
Question OF Vice Presidency.
Now the same thing may happen
regarding the vice presidency as re-
garding the presidency, and the cleo
ton of the Vice President will be
thrown into the Senate. where a ma
jority of the whole number, or forty
nine, will be necessary to a choice.
with two-thirds Of the members re-
quired to be present. You then have
the same relative situation in the
Senate as in the House, but really
more complex and with greater GER
tainty of an impasse because the indi-
vidual senators cast their votes and
not the states.
In the Senate the voting will be be-
tween two persons, the third party
man being eliminated. 1t is pretty
safe to say that block Of senators
who would like to vote for q third
party man will not support the lead
ing candidate of one of the two great
parties without a concession of some
kind.
The term of President expires at
noon on March 4. He has no constitu-
tional right to continue longer in
office. He automatically steps out
The House having failed to elect a
President and the Senate having fail
ed to elect a Vice President and there
being no Vice President under the
outgoing administration, there Is then
a vacancy In tn Office of President.
Then comes into play the presidential
succession act, the Office falling to
! Ceeretsry of State. Secretary 9f
Treasury, etc. .s,,-f