Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-06
A PERPETUAL CONG GRESS.
official Terms Of Representatives.
REASONS WHY IT Is PROPOSED TO HAVE THEIR TERMS
BEGIN AND END DECEMBER 81

In Its report upon the Grain joint resolution pro-
posing Constitutional amendment substituting
the 3lst OF December for the 4th OF March as the
commencement and termination OF the off1cial
term OF members Of the House OF Representatives
the committee on the election Of the President,
Vice-Presdent and Representatives In Congress,
says:
"The primary object sought to be accomplished
oy the ratification OF this amendment Is to change
the time fixed for the commencement and termi-
nation OF the oicial term OF members OF the House
OF Representatives The necessity for such
change is obvious from consideration OF the evils
which How from our present system OF representa-.
ton. The House chosen In November does not
begin It's work for thirteen months after its
election although its members draw their salaries
from the 4th OF March next succeeding. For nine
months there is no Speaker OF the House; before
Its members have served their full term their sue
cessors are chosen; the certain determina-
t1on OF the second session at IL meridian on the
4th OF March often prevents the passage OF i'm
portant measures, either from lack OF time as in
the case OF the deficiency bill at the second session
dent has not had an opportunity to examine them,
as happened with the RIVER ana harbor bill at the
close OF the same session. The efficiency Of repre-
Sentattves during the short session is sometimes
impaired because they have failed OF reelection;
representatives are chosen upon issues which may
nave been settled when they came TO the capital
to enter actively upon the performance OF their
duties The people In many Instances are not rep
resented by the men whom they have chosen TO
represent them, but defeated candidates hold over
and the month OF December In the first session is
practically wasted by the house on account or
holiday adJournments.
BENEFITS OF THE CHANGE.
"Should the proposed amendment be adopted the
members OF the House elected In November would
have about sixty days In which TO receive their
certificates OF election to prepare for contests to
arrange their private affairs In contemplation OF
protracted absence from home and 10 reach
the capital. There would be no holiday ad-
1ournment; the House would only be about eight
days without Speaker Instead of nine months,
as under the present system; the theory OF the
founders OF the Constitution that the Representa-
tiveS should come fresh from the people would be
carried out, and they would be engaged In the
settlement OF the issues upon which they were
chosen within sixty days after their election. The
House chosen at the Presidential election would
assist In the counting or the Presidential vote and
elect the President In case the election should
devOlve upon the House. There would be two long
sessions without any nXed time for adjournment
except Such as might be agreed upon by both
houses, and there would, consequently, be FAIL
ure OF important bills for want OF time. There
would be no election between the sessions and
therefore each member would be as efficient during
the second session as he was during the first. Rep
resentat1veS would not be placed In the dilemma
OF choosing between temporary abandonment Of
tnelf post or duty and the alternative OF defeat
home, and they would have an opportunity be-
tween the sessions TO visit their constituents and
10 discuss pending measures to them. The nrst
session would not be game OF chess between the
ana there would be no necessity for extra ses-