Evening star., 1901-09-07
INAUGURATION DAY.
Change of Date from March to April
30 Finds Many Advocates.
From the New York Tribune

30 Finds Many Advocates.
From the New York Tribune.
Some weeks ago we called attention to
the agitation started in Washington for
an end-of-April presidential inauguration.
The idea of pushing forward by practically
two months the date of the Presidents in
stallation in Office was in no sense novel
one. The desirability Of recasting our po-
litical calendar SO as to make Its most
notable and impressive celebration fall not
amid the rigors of early March but amid
the beguiling charms of early May lad
been urged before on an Indifferent Con-
gress and an Indifferent public. But never
in other efforts to effect the change of date
had practical means been taken to arouse
that sentiment and create that pressure
by which alone the two houses can be
driven to give their sanction to projects
however simple and however advantageous
which lie beyond the beaten paths of
politics. 1t is gratifying to find that the
Inauguration committee of 1901. which has
now undertaken to secure from Congress
the legislation necessary to shift the in
auguration ceremony from March to April,
is enliSting or has already enlisted In Its
movements influences In the various states
through which it can hope to command
cordial hearing in both House and Senate.
From a collection of opinions made re-
Gently by the Chicago Post it appears that
in the view Of many public men the change
of date will be of vastly greater national
benefit In lengthening the shorter term Of
Congress by two months than in redeeming
the Inauguration ceremony from its pres
ent dangers and diScomfOrtS Both Sena-
tor Allison and Senator Elkins. who wrote
opinions in favor Of a later inauguration
day, counted the extension of the crowded
second session by nine or ten weeks ss one
of the essential arguments for a revised
calendar. The history of the Congress
which expired on March last would GER
tainly give point to the contention that
the time has gone when the two houses
can compress q years necessary legiSla-
tive work into the three scant months now
allowed for the closing session. Some
public men advocate an even greater ex-
tension of the second years sitting than
nine or ten weeks; for Senator Hanna Is
quoted by the Post as favoring May 30 as
the new date for the presidential Inaugural
tion. Senator Elkins preferred the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in May
short session until May 8. Senator Allison
held that historical associations should
govern in fixing the new date, and he
therefore, in common with most of the
others who contributed opinions chose
April 30-the day on which the first Ameri
can President took the oath of office.
AS to the legislation needed to strike
March from the political calendar experts
differ widely. Many hold that a consttu-
tiOnal amendment must be passed to
lengthen the term of some President act
ually in Office before the new arrangement
can be legaliZed. Others seem 20 think
that as the present dates for the inaugu-
ration of the President and for the begin
ming and ending of the life of each Con-
gress are set or can be changed by statute.
Congress may. by its own power. shift or
alter them. The constitutional amendment
method offers more obstacles but will, no
doubt, be accepted as the more direct and
satisfactory means of bridging over the
interregnum which must be created by the
pOstponement of some Presidents entry
into power from March to some day early
in May or late in April.