Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-04


Representative Grain has made several changes
In his resolution for a change In the time for the
assembling OF Congress. AS 1t now stands It il
practically new proposition, designed more per-
fectly to meet the necessities OF the case. The
resolution provides for the following article to be
proposed to the legislatures OF the several states
as an amendment to the Constitution Of the tinted
states:
"The 3lst day Of December, at noon, is supsti-
tuted for the 4th day OF March, as the commence
ment and termination Of the Official term OF the
members OF the House OF Representatives.
''The Congress In existence when the members OF
the nrst House OF Representatives are elected
AFTER the ratincation OF this amendment shall not
hold an annual session after such election.
congress shall assemble at least once in each
year, and such meeting shall be On the Tuesday
next after the first Monday in January, unless
Congress shall by law appoint a different day."
Speaking OF the bill TO STAR reporter to-day
Mr.. Grain said: "Whatever difference OF opinion
may have existed among the members OF the Con-
stitutional convention about the duration Of the
term OF the House OF Representatives all OF them
agreed that Il ought TO be changing and not
continuing body like the Senate, and that the
representatives should come fresh from the peo-
when the Constitution was adopted the steam
ship, the railroad, and the telegraph were un-
known to its trainers, and some OF its provisions
are wholly inappleabie to present conditions
One hundred years ago it TOOK weeks and even
now accomplished in as many hours and, with
y,
are transmitted with the rapidity or lighting.
Before the invention OF the steam engine. and
when postal facilities were limited, considerable
time was consumed In gathering election returns,
in the preparation BY the members-elect for leav-
ing their homes and In travelling to the capital;
but nowadays ell these things are accomplished
II is absolutely absurd for the members elected in
November to wait until December OF the following
OF their duties at the capital although they draw
their salaries from the Atm or March following
"The evils moving from this practice are numer-
GUS, and IL is at war with the theory that the rep
resentatives ought to represent Issues upon
Wnlch tney are elected may oe dead when they are
months; the certain termination or the short ses-
sion On the fourth OF March often prevents the
or time, as happened to the deficiency bill at the
last session, or because the President has not had
suilcieut time to examine them, as in the case Of
the river and harbor bill; members are rendered
more or less inefficient during the short
By the mOnss of
celnber In the first session Is practically wasted
By the House on account OF the holiday adj
tournament. Extra sessions Sometimes become
Necessary, and the people In IN any Instances are
not represented by the men whom they have Sc
lected 10 represent them, but celeated candidates
hold over in opposition TO the Will or the pc ope
expressed at the polls. These are some ol the
most giartng evils OF the present system Now,
In the senate by Senator Hoar II adopted will SIM
ply lengtnen The second session by two mouths
but 1t would not cause Representatives to meet at
an earlier date than at present, and thirteen
months would elapse before they began their ac-
tive service IN The house. There would be day
certain fixed lor adjournment: The mouse would
there would still be rush or business In
the closing days OF the short session, &C.
The Hoar amendment would be great Improve
ment, but IL would IUil to meet the necesSt Ties OF
the case.
''The amendment which have prepared is doubt
A.fA
ducton and discussion serve 70 can the attention
OF others to The Importance Of the subject 81 That
an adequate reneay may pc devised
adoption HAS, or soLae OLner AN, numen cover
Ing the case, will readily present themselves The
members elected in November would nave about
Sixty days In which 10 receive their certificates OF
election, settle their private business and reach
the capital to beg In work.
'Tnere would be no holiday adjournmentS; the
Speaker would hold continuously Tor Two years; the
House would De Practically continuing House 70
the extent that 1t could remain III session
two years, II necessary only adjourning long enough
TO comply with the Constitutional requirement OF
an annual session; there would be- two long ses-
sions instead OF long ana short session; there
would be failure Ga important bills Tor want OF
time; members OF the House would be fresh from
the people, and eng aged In discussing The issues
upon which they were elected within sixty days
after their election; the House chosen at
Presidential election would assist in the counting
or the Presidential vote: there would he no fixed
time for adjournment except sucn as might be
agreed upon Dy BON Houses Until the 3lst uray OF
December OF each year; there would be no cleo
tons between sessions, and consequently every
member would ne as efficient during the second
session as he was during the first, iur MS record
would be incomplete anu he would still have
cnance for Reelection and members would not be
forced to choose, as at present, between tem-
porary abandonment OF tneir post OF duly and
chance or defeat in the nominating conventions,
many OF which are held during the long session;
they would have an opportunity TO visit their CON-
stituents and discuss pending measures with them;
and the nroL session would nV IOnyer be game OF
chess between Tue Two parties. With the fall cleo
lions as the wager"