Watertown Republican

VICE-PRESIDENT IS DEAD.
Garret A. Hobart Succumbs to Disease.

RALLY WAS DECEPTIVE
Fitting Close of a Life Filled with Business Activity and Public Service.

Paterson, N. J., Nov. 21.-Vice-President Hobart died at his residence at 8:30 this morning. For several days past his condition had shown great improvement, but the rally seems only to have been the last efforts of a once-rugged constitution to shake off an insidious disease. His family and some immediate friends were at his bedside when he died.

The Funeral.

Paterson, N. J., Nov. 25.-Because of the funeral of Garret A. Hobart, vice-president of the United States, today, business houses, with few exceptions, were closed and many private residences had flags at half-mast besides other mourning emblems. The early trains brought many to attend the funeral services.

The Pall-Bearers.

There were thirty-two pall-bearers, eight representing the United States Senate, eight representing the House of Representatives, eight personal pallbearers selected by Mr. Hobart two months before his death, and eight Senate police, who carried the casket.

THE LATE VICE-PRESIDENT HOBART

Services at the House.

The service at the house was brief and simple. It was held in the library which was banked with flowers sent by friends of the dead vice-president. Mrs. Hobart, with her son, Garret A. Hobart, Jr., sat near the head of the casket, while near her were grouped the President and his cabinet, judges of the Supreme court, the honorary pallbearers and the immediate friends of the family and the family servants. Rev. David D. Magie offered the prayer and read a passage of Scripture.

The President, cabinet and Supreme judges and those present took a last look at the face of the dead, the casket was closed and all that was mortal of Vice-President Hobart was carried out to the hearse by members of the Senate police.

The casket was carried by eight members of the capitol police, in uniform. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers.

The services at the church lasted an hour and were conducted by Rev. Dr. Magie. They began with an organ prelude and reading of Scriptures by Rev. Charles P. Shaw, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Paterson. Then followed the singing of the hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee," by the Orpheus club. Dr. Magie then preached the funeral sermon and offered prayer. This was followed by the anthem "Weary Hands," sung by the Orpheus club, after which the benediction was pronounced by Dr. Magie.

The earthly remains of the late Vice-President Garret A. Hobart were consigned to a temporary resting place in the receiving vault at Cedar Lawn cemetery.

Garret A. Hobart was born in Monmouth county, N. J., June 3, 1844; entered the sophomore class of Rutgers college in 1860, and graduated in 1863 at the age of 19; thereafter taught school until he entered the law office of Socrates Tuttle of Paterson, N. J.; was admitted to the bar in 1869, and commenced the practice of law in the office of that gentleman; was clerk for the grand jury in 1865; city counsel of Paterson in 1871; was elected counsel for the board of chosen freeholders in May, 1872; entered the Legislature in 1873, and was re-elected to the Assembly in 1874, and was made speaker in 1876; was elected to the Senate in 1879, and in 1881 was elected president of that body, and re-elected in 1882; was a delegate at large to the Republican national convention in 1884, and was again chosen in 1888; was elected a member of the national committee in 1884 and served continuously until 1896, when he was nominated for vice-president by the Republican national convention, and was duly elected and took the oath of office on March 4, 1897.

As affecting the presidential succession the death of the vice-president places the secretary of state as first in line in the event of a vacancy in the office of President.

Until 1886 the law provided that in case of the death or resignation or incapacity of the President and vice-president, the president pro tempore of the Senate should become President and after him the speaker of the House of Representatives. There were grave doubts of the constitutionality of this arrangement, and in case the president pro tem. of the Senate or speaker of the House differed politically from the Executive it would mean a violent upheaval in the offices and political affairs of the country. The result was the passage of an act of Congress making the presidential office descend to cabinet officers, beginning with the ranking secretary. The president pro tem. of the Senate, which position is now held by Mr. Frye, becomes the permanent presiding officer of that body, and the office of vice-president remains vacant.