Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-13
MEETING TIME OF CONGRESS.
Desirable Reform Proposed in Exc
listing Law.
GIian.A nI,nnninla

A western member of congress has in
troduced a bill in the house to change the
time for congress to meet. The constitu-
tion ordains that congress shall meet the
first Monday in December unless a differ
ent day shall be fixed by law. The present
law provides that the term Of members
of congress elected biennially in November
shall begin on the 4th of March following.
The congress to which they are chosen
does not meet until the next December, a
year and a month after the election. 1t is
a preposterous arrangement for a system
of popular representation.
See how the plan works in practice.
Members of congress elected in November,
1898, did not take their seats until the
| opening of congress the first Monday in
December, 1899. Their successors will be
elected in November, 1900, and will be full
fiedged members after the 4th of March,
1901. But the old members will constitute
the house which meets in December, 1900,
and adjourns March 4, 1901. Many of it's
members may have been refused a r%e-elec-
ton. Their successors will have been
chosen. But they sit in congress and par
ticipate in legislation for a full session
after they have been voted out of office
and their responsibilities to their constit-
uencies have ceased. Senators occupy
seats until March 4, although their sue
cessors may have been elected in January.
This system, with the house and senate
| constituted for one term largely of members
whose terms are about expiring, who have
been rejected by the people, who have no
political future before them, provides an
irresponsible element in each house which
may be susceptible to every corrupt and
corrupting influence. A man OF loose con-
science, If he still has a constituency behind
him, supporting him by their votes and
watchful of his course, may remain honest
ana faithful to his public trust. But If his
constituents reject him and If he has a
remnant of his term to serve there is no
security that he will be bound by any re-
~straints Of honesty. The temptation is strong
fol him to make all for himself that is pos
slble before he leaves the scene of his power
and his opportunities.
Members of congress should enter upon
their terms soon after their election. Every
candidate knows within a few days after
election whether he has been successful or
unsuccessful at the polls. 1t is far different
now from what it was a century ago or even
fifty years ago, when weeks or months
were required to determine the result OF
close elections. Under present laws in ali
the states the congressional votes are cam
vassed and the returns are declared within
a month or six weeks after the election. II
the terms of members should
on the list of January following the election
and If congress were to meet a few days or
a few weeks afterward the members would
come fresh from the people, with a full sense
o. individual responsibility and bound TO
make a record as a claim for reelection.
When they become candidates for a second
term their whole career would be before
the voters. If rejected they would not have
still a full session during which they might
"get even with their former constituencies
and with the world.