The Washington critic., 1888-02-03
trErrINGs or coNGnrss.

MEETINGS OF CONGRESS.
Some of the newspapers are evil
IDENTIFY confounding Mr.. Hoar's Inau-
guration Day resolution with some
other resolution. From the language
used, {" says the New York Mail and
ErpresS, ''it appears that the amend
ment is not merely to put the date of
Inauguration two months later, but is
TO substitute the 10Th day of October
for our famous first Monday in De-
cember, and thus lengthen the ses-
sions Of Congress at both ends" The
Joint resolution that passed the Senate
was simply this;
The term Of Office Of the President and Of
the lfiftie.h Congress shall continue until the
last tuesday Of April, In the year 1889, at
noon. Tho Senators whose existing term
would otherwise expire ON the 4th day
Of March. in the year 1889, or there
after, shall continue In ofice until noon
of the last Tuesday in April sue.
eeeding such expiration; and the last
9psday Of April, at noon, shall thereafter be
rpbsrtrrt<>th the 4th of March as the com
mencement Cmination of the official
term 'df the Presi6cM, Vice President, sena-
TORS, and Representatives in Congress.
There is nothing in Mr.. Hoar's res
olution relative to the time of meeting
of Congress or the election of members.
There are bills pending in both
Houses, however, which provide that
Congress shall meet on the 10th of
October, instead Of the first Monday
in December, and ii is with these bills
thatt the Hoar resolution has been
Confounded.
There is no proposed amendment
to the Constitution that we are aware
of, or ever is likely to be, modifying
the existing constitutional obligation
of the States to provide in their own
way for the election of Senators and
Representatives, subject to the ap-
proyal OF Congress, or inhibiting the
right now possessed by Congress of
designating its time of meeting. No
body would approve an amendment
OF the Constitution restricting popular
rights in these respects.
The joint resolution introduced in
the House by Mr.. Grain of Texas pro.
vides that the Constitution be SO
amended as to substitute the 3lst oil
December for the 4th of March as the
commencement and termination OF
the official term of the Members of
the House. -
Mr.. Hoaf' s amendment looks to the
change of Inauguration Day from the
4th of March to the last Tuesday in
April.
Mr.. Grains amendment is designed
to do away with the election of Mem.
bers between sessions, so that those
who are chosen in November shall
take their seats on the first Monday
of january Immediately following
instead Of the first Monday of Decem'
Der of the next year.
The question now is how to har
monize these two amendments so al
to enable an early ratification by tn,
State Legislatures which are now il
session or which are to convene the
coming fall and winter.
Heartily concurring with Mr.. Hoar'i
amendment as to a change of Inaugural
tion Day and with Mr.. Grains excel
lent proposition TO reform our presen
Congressional election system, it is I,
be hoped that no prolonged conten
tion will stand in the way Of thei
adoption. With slight changes they
can be conjoined in one amendment
that will be certain TO meet popular
approval, and do away with many
serious objections TO existing methods
The CRITIo would suggest that Mr.
Hoar's amendment as to the day o
Inauguration be accepted without ap
plication TO the commencement or ex
piTation of the terms of Members o
the House, and Mr.. Grains accepted
as TO changing the date of expiration
from March to December 81. Sucl
an amendment being agreed upon anC
ratified prior TO March A., 1889, thu
Congress elected in November mex
would begin its official existence OF
the last Tuesday in April, 1880, apC
end December 81, 1890. Thereafte
there would be no irregularity in thu
series. The Congress elected in No
vember, 1890, would extend from De
cember 81, 1890, to December 81
1892; the Congress of 1892, from De
cember 81, 1892, TO December 81, 1894
and so on. Congress would NEE