Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-16

Public opinion, wherever 1t has found author
itative expression in print, seems to be une-
quivocably In favor Of the proposed change OF
Inauguration day from the fourth of March TO
the thirtieth OF April. The only question that
has been raised on any side has come rom some
OF those sticklers who cannot bear To see an
amendment added to the constitution, no mat
ter for how good a purpose. The obvious an
swer to such criticism Is that the present agita-
ton has tor its object not a new departure from,
but return to, the strict letter of the constitu-
ton. by the repeal OF an amendment made
without the prescribed formalities sanctioned
only by popular acquescence, and never even
reduced TO writing. glance back to the origin
Of cur government will explain this. The con-
stitution declares that the President "shall hold
his ONCE during the term of four years." This
is o mandatory clause in the simplest
possible form. George Washington was
tnaugurated President on the thrtieth
OF April, 1859. But, q resolution of the CONT
mental Congress had fixed the first Wednesday
In March, which happened to be the fourth, as
the date for commencing proceedings under
the Constitution" and Washington's delicacy
about holding Office even for a day longer than
his title to IL beyond cavil led him to
sumo that the beginning OF his functions, like
that of the Congress of the United States, dated
back by fiction of law to the fourth of March,
1859, and would expire on the corresponding
day in 1898. Instead of holding his office for
term of four years, therefore, he laid IL aside at
the end Of three years. nine months and twenty
seven days; and hence il came about that
the first chief magistrate sworn to "pre-
serve, protect and defend the Constitution"
was the first to violate the letter of one Of its
mandatory provisions. President Washing
toms course, as II was prompted by the noblest
and most unselfsh motives, was not INSTRUCTED.
though 1t had the effect Of ENGRAVING an I'M
written amendment upon the Constitution.
Every President who succeeded him has, of
course, been bound by the letter of the Consti-
tuition TO enter office and leave 1T at interval
OF four years. or from fourth of March to fourth
Of March. The facts thus briefly reviewed
should suffice TO convince the most conscien-
tious director that change of inauguration
day To the thirtieth Of April would be a
restoration. not an innovation,-a move back
into the straitest constitutional channels, and
moi q fresh diversion.
But there are good reasons other than historic
for the change. The shifting of the date of
Inauguration day would be accompanied by q
shit also in the date of the adjournment of the
short session of Congress. Every good citizen
knows what the short session Is now-a-days-
how. in the rush and hustle of the period be-
tween the end of the holiday recess in January
and the fourth of March, every lobbyist and
tobmaster Is IN his element; how bills and reso-
lutiOns are pushed through, undigested and
almost unread; how the most gigantic frauds
are perpetrated by the log-rolling methods
which then seem well-nigh essential to any
legislation at all; how the peoples money is
thrown away on appropriations which are
either grossly extravagant or wastefully stingy.
Never does such a carnival of plumber and mis-
chief pass without reviving the question how
the session shall be heightened SO as to give
Congress time to do its work properly. In the
proposition before rs we have an answer which
In 10th logical and practical.
As reinforcing these considerations comes the
rejection that the season at which the session
now breaks up In the odd years 10 an inconve-
nience for everybody. Members of Congress
who have to change their dwelling-places are
put to needless expense and discomfort. March
Is the most trying month of the year for those
whose health Is not robust to remove from one
climate TO another. In Washington, every al
teroate spring, the business season is cut Off
midway in its course; the proposed change
would extend 1t nearly two months. In inau-
gurai year, the mflder weather of late April
would enable the citizen soldiery who visit the
CITY 70 go into camp for q week or so, instead of
rushing into Washington and out of IL In a few
hours. Excursion steamers from northern and
southern ports could lie at our wharves for
some days, furnishing sleeping quarters for
Thousands Of visitors who now stay away be-
cause they cannot get comfortable accommoda-
tons.
On every ground the agitation Of this cues
ton deserves encouragement Senator ingalls,
amendment should be taken up at once and
put through Congress, 80 that It can be sub
united TO the states without needless delay. |
There could not be a time more fitting for a |
return TO the date established by Washington's
ins,ailation than the hundredth anniversary of
that ceremony; and that Is too near at hand to
Admit m ch davdlipo