Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-02-18
Treloar's Constitutional Amendment.

Treloar's Constitutional Amendment.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 10.-Con-
gresham Treloar, of Missouri, was
given hearing before the House
committee on Judiciary Tuesday on
his JOINT resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States lengtheniug the terms
of the Senators and Representatives
in Congress to eight and four years,
respectively, and also lengthening the
term of the President to eight years.
Mr.. Treloar's resolution was intro
duced on December 14th last, and on
the 21st Senator Proctor introduced a
resolution IN the Senate proposing an
amendment to the Constitution max
ing theterms of Representatives three
years and the term OF the President
six years. The hearing Tuesday was
the first which has been given on the
proposed innovations.
Mr.. Treloar informed the commiS-
tee that since the Introduction of his
resolution he had received from all
over the country a large number of
letters, all, with few exceptions,
strongly advocating the passage of
the resolution. He contended that
these letters were indisputable evil
dence of desire of large number of
American citizens to vote on the
amendment proposed, and that it was
the duty of Congress to give them an
opportunity of doing so. If the amend
ments are not acceptable to the ma
jority of the people they will vote
them down.
The reasons for lengthening the
term of the President were, he said,
obvious to everybody. Frequently
recurring elections only serve to un-
settle business, and to breed failures
and poverty.
"Under our present SYSTEM" he
continued, call business enterprises
are practically paralyzed for at least
one year out of every four. The COM
mercial interests of our country de-
mand fewer elections, and the higher
qualifications for Office consequent
upon longer service. Elections as now
conducted are expensive, and the
people are groaning under the bur-
den. regard that portion Of the
amendment which makes the Presi-
dent ineligible for reelection as one
of the most important features. There
is no doubt that President can give
the country a much purer and abler
administration if all thought of future
personal profit and honor be eliml-
mated. Under our present system a
President is hardly elected before he
starts to lay wires for his renomina-
ton and reelection. / do not think
our President should be ward poll
tician and use the federal patronage
to advance his private interests.
"My reason for lengthening the
term of the Senators lies in the desire
to have one entire Senate elected dur
ing every administration. The pro-
posed amendment classifies Senators
into two classes, giving each State
one member OF each class, who is Sc.
lected every four years. My reason
for lengthening the term of Repre-.
sentatives lies in the fact that two
years is not sufficiently long term
because in the very nature of things
it will take a new Congressman near.
ly all of that to familiarize himself
with the practices of Congress. HI
becomes more valuable to his con-
stituents after having learned the I'M
and outs of legislation in our nationa
legislature"
Mr.. Treloar was listened to will
considerable interest by the commit
tee. His resolution was taken undel
advisement. The members of tht
committee would not discuss tn,
probability of its being reported.