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Show PRESIDENTIAL PROBLEMS. A writer in the current Forum magazine maga-zine discusses "Presidential Succession Problems and. Chango of Inaugural Day." As to tho latlor part of it, it is a mero dotail, going to the root of no particular problem. Whethor inauguration in-auguration shall bo in March, April, Maj-, January, or nn3' other month is of no particular consequence. For ourselves, our-selves, wo think it would bo better to have tho inauguration on the first day in Jannar3', and have tho fiscal your of the Government begin on that same date. Or if that is thought to bo loo soon, in view of present dates of electoral elec-toral votes and tho counting of them, and a postponement longer than March Jth is to be made, wlo not postpono until un-til tho first day of July, and lot the incoming of tho new administration bo coincident with tho beginning of our fiscal 3'car? The questions as to succession raised in the Forum, however, aro of great importance. Tho writer suggests three cases whore great difficulties might arise. First, where the death of a candidate can-didate occurs after tho November election, elec-tion, and beforo tho close of (.ho moot ing ol 1.110 eiccrarai conego on t.no second sec-ond -Monday in January. The electoral college meets on tho second Monday of Jannao, tho electors of the several Stales respectively in the capitals of tho States casting their votes formnll3- in ratification of tho popular choico of the election in tho preceding November. But should tho man thus elected die between the timo the electors cast their voles for him and .inaugural day, thero is absolutely no means under- tho law whereby a President could bo elected, as thore is no provision for reconvening re-convening tho electoral college. Tho same probloin would arise, if tie doath occurred between tho second Wodnesda3' in February, when the doctoral count is mado in tho two housos of Congress, and inaugural Hay; also, in case tho death occurred after tho vote of the doctoral college and beforo tho Congressional count. After tho inauguration, Congress has made an awkward and non-popular provision pro-vision for tho filling of tho Presidenc3r in case the President should die. There is a succession provided for, in the Cabinet officials according to the seniority of Cabinet positions. Any succession liko this, however, would givo us for successor a President not elected b3 the peoplo nor b3' an3' constitutional con-stitutional electorate. Tho President would morcl3' be President by virtuo of his nppoiniment to a Cabinet positiou by tho doad candidate whom ho might succeed. All of theso problems, however, could bo solved -vcrj' easily by a statute which would declare tho electoral col-lego col-lego to bo a continuing bodj-, its members mem-bers holding offico for four j'cars and until their successors aro elected and qualified with proper and stated means for filling any vacancy b3" the Slates in the number of electors as chosen. The theory of the constitution is that tho electoral college, so called, being tho Presidential electors chosen in the differont Statos, should bo tho body that would really elect tho President. Tho popular practice, however, has entirely en-tirely superseded that view, and the peoplo now in fact elect the President, and tho electoral college simply ratifies rati-fies that choice. If how Congress should pass a law continuing tho life of the electoral college col-lege for a Presidential term of four years, and allow that college to elect a Vico-Presidcnt -whenever the President Presi-dent dies, and tho Vico-Prcsidont succeeds suc-ceeds to tho Prosidenc3", nnd doing this as often ns neccssar3', and electing both or either in case of need, tho constitutional constitu-tional method of filling theso great offices of-fices would bo enforced in tho verj' letter and spirit of the constitution it-solf. it-solf. We do not seo any objection whatever what-ever to that method of filling all vacancies va-cancies in theso two chief offices of tho Republic, savo onl' tho desire of Representatives and Sonators to take ns much as possiblo on themselves in this relation. That method would, in fact, bo the true constitutional method, and would conform bettor than any other ever proposed to tho constitutional constitu-tional principles. Wo have suggested this method heretofore, and havo never seen au3' objection mado against it. Wc propose it again as tho truo, logical, and constitutional method of dealing with all such questions ns aro raised in connection with tho succession of tho offices of President nnd "Vice-President in caso of vacauc3' occurring in either offico. |