Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
Iowa Delegation Satisfied With
His Course in Wade Matter.
THINK He PURSUED RIGHT PLAN
judiciary Committee Considering Pro.
posal to Change Date of Inaugural.
tions-Iowa May Not Fare Well in
Public Buildings This Year. =.
IBY H. ]. MAHIN.l

washington, ID. G. Dec. 20.-The
Iowa delegation seem to approve of
Governor Cumnins' decision that he
could not refuse Judge Wade his cleo
ton certificate. 1t is declared that the
points offered for contest would not
have held good in the house of repre-
sentatives. There have been several
similar cass and they have never yet
barred man from taking his seat. In
fact, if the ground was we'll taken
both of the elecuons of Congressman
Waiter |. Smith of Council Bluffs
could be contested, as exactly the same
conditions surrounded him as in Judge
Wade's case. Several Iowa congress-
men received letters in regard to the
proposed contesting, but none could
see their way clear to give any encour-
agement to the project.
Change Inauguration Date.
The house judiciary committee in
considering the proposed change Of
inauguration date has met the same
difficulty that faced the Titus amend
ment for biennial elections in Iowa
That is the frightening or shortening
of terms of office. The residents of
Washington want the change on ac-
count of the weather conditions and
many politicians want it because
period of thirteen months now elapses
from the time new congress is elect
ed unit lit Is convened. One plan re-
garded fayorably by the committee
provides that the term of congress
shall begin on the second Tuesday in
December and the President be sworn
in on the first day of January, the
terms of the senators and representa-
tives to end and begin on the first day
of December and the term Of the Pres
ident on the first day of January in
stead of on the fourth day of the fol-
lowing March, and all such terms now
existing to be shortened to carry the
plan into effect According to this
plan the members elected in the last
campaign would close their terms two
years from next January. The friends
of this plan declare that the weather
consideration is comparatively unim-
portant; that the administrative needs
of the government require that the
practice of holding short session of
one congress after the election of the
next congress and the postponement
of the meeting of the congress-elect
iOI tuliISSu IuOuluS SuOulu ne dUdil-
doned. Another plan is to have the
President and members of congress
continue in Office until April 80 instead
of March and also make that date
the date of Inauguration and of the
beginning of the terms of new mem
bers and senators. In support of this
it is cited that while George Washing
tons Inauguration was set for March
4 he really was not sworn in until
April 80, and then as the constitution
provides that a President shall serve
four years the term was not up until
April 80 four years later. Washington
inclines to this plan because it would
mean fine Inauguration weather.
Iowa May Not Fare Well.
There will without doubt be small
omnibus public building bill presented
and passed at this session of congress.
i was told this by Maryland con-
gresham who has been promised an