Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-25
which the votes d the ELECTORS shall have

While the constitution fixes the term
OF the President and Vice President a.
four years, it does not fix the day on
which that term shall begin; and submit
80 this House whether it be actually
necessary to consider constitutional
amendment GA this subject when the day
for o ginning the presidential term is
fixed by law, not by the constitution.
II thsTe be Question of doubt shout
it, and If II be desirable TO make the
change from any proper consideration,
then I admit constitutional amendment
is the preferable method to adopt. But
it is serious question for consideration
in view Of the fSct that there is no day
fixed by the constitution for the begin
ming and end Of the Presidential term,
and in view of the further fsct that the
beginning of that term Lss been fixed by
an sct Of the Second Congress as March
4, whether it is necessary for us to pass
constitutional amendment on this sub
sct and submit it to the states for their
ratification CT not. Although IS 1t is
doGb fuI question, it might be preferable
to determine the question By amendment
AS to the changes proposed oy this
resolution, so fer as the term CT members
of the House is concerned, respectfully
submit that the real evils OF Wdlch the
country so much complsius will not be
remedied in any particular by the pro-
visions Of this resolution.
Under the present system & memb7r Of
the House elected in November begins to
draw his salary the An day Of Msrch next
succeeding his election. He does not
meet at the capitol and enter upon the
active discharge of the duties of his
Office until the fist Moudsy in December.
Fer nine months this House is without c
Speaker. Elections are held between ses-
sions. Before member has made his
record SIS q Representative Of the House
Of representatives, he IS called upon to
choose between the horns of djlem j a
either TO remain at his post Of duty and
| have himself undermined st home, or
abandon his post of duty and 60 amongst
his pesp!e and defend himself against
attacks OF another Hho desires TO fill hls
place.
| If the amendment st present submitted
is adopted, how is that changed? Il is not
changed ct all. The elections are the
same. A member iselected in November
and he comes here when7 He comes
here in December, thirteen months after
wards.
1t is true that tue short session Is
| lengthened; aDd Whist IS the effect Ct
that? The effect is simply to extend the
time from the 4th OF March until the S0sh
Of April when his salary shall begin.
In this connection let me suggest an.
other evil which every old member of tt e
House must have observed. Let 6 man
be defeated between the sessions, he
comes back here 10 the short session an
| inefficient member, and so, nsturslly, the
people worship the rising sun; they turn
their backs on the setting sun. A de.
feated member of Congress Is only less in
the estimation of the people Of this city
and OF the members of the House and Of
the people in his district-he is only lees,
l say, than en- eX-memher Of Congress
He comes here repudiated by his people
Another has been chosen to take his
place. BE feels chagrined, mortified, hu
Unlisted; and the uppermost idea in his
mind is that the session may close d:
quickly as possible so thst he nay g;
back End attend TO his private aff3irs
which have been neglected.
Tais state OF facts should not exist
W2ile 1t is true you may change the time
for the meeting Of Congress by law, yet il
order to do that you will necessarily have
to curt.l the term Of some House Of Rep
raseEtstives. The election dsY is fYec
by law Of Congress. The experience C
the states has demonstrated beyond ques
ton that the time fiXsd Is the best for 81
parts of the Union. There is no immedi
ate prospect of the change OF the deY {
election on thst account How can vol
have the members of the House CONF
here st any other time unless you inter
fere with the day Of the election? tn
very fact that q bill would necesssril.
have TO do this by cotton of Congress
even II this resolution should be adopted
shows that the resolution itself is radical
ly defective.
If the House OF Representatives has 1t
term fixed 10 the constitution, as seem
; to be the opinion Of leading lawyers, ths
term would not be curtailed by law anC
it could only be shortened by consd
tutionsi amendment.
Mr.. O.tes-Wil the gentleman yield t
me question:
Mr.. CraiI-CeItainly.
Mr.. Oates-I understand this smend
ment under consideration is, according
to the gentleman, of no practical value
Mr. C5sin-I did not So that.
Mr.. Oltes-Because tine beginning {
the term is fixed by law to four years
, How can You change and ex
tend the term to the 30:h da
OF April or any other dHy for III
I Inauguration Of the Incoming Presider
, unless you change the constitution
How can you do il by statute?
, Mr.. Crain-I ssid 1t was questi0nAbl
, whether il vas necessary to have s. col
$ stisutionsl amendment, because the be
\ ginning CT the term is fixed on the 4th {
6 March II he tir1e is fixed by law fl
3 the beginning of the term, why cannC
: you change the time by law?
Mr.. Oates-You provide for the tin
q intervening.
n Mr.. Craln-H what this proposes to q
I be correct
n Mr.. Oltes-How can you change Il
Il term by law when the constitution So!
G the term shall be four years2
/. Nj. Crain-Tbe constitution and Ia
4 must be construed together. If tits fixt
!. by law it shall begin on certain d.
II there is no reason why "
Il should not fix 1t to beg
n some other day. The President, II
every other official, takes his Office
,s fixed by the constitution and law. T.
| gentleman misunderstands that Gs
! proposition from me, that constitution