Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-22
ACTION WAS DEFERRED
COMMITTEE CONSIDERS CHANGE
OF INAUGURATION DATE.
Representative Shafroth Favors the
Meeting Of Congress in the Janu-
ary Following the Election.

Representative Shafroth of Colorado was
heard by the House committee on the judi
ciary this morning on the prop ed amend
ment to the Constitution to permit a change
In the date Of Inauguration from March
until the last Thursday in April. The COM
mfttee, however, took no action on the mat
ter today, letting it go over until Friday.
Mr.. Shafroth declared himself as not OPP
posed to the proposed change. What he
wanted to express, however, was his views
regarding what he considered a necessary
change in the beginning Of the sessions OF
Congress.
On this latter subject he gave the COM
mittee five reasons why the resolution
should be amended so as to provide that
the terms OF congressman should begin the
next January after their election, when the
first session of the new Congress should
also be held.
Reasons for the Change.
I'm the first place. said Mr.. Shafroth.
''the meeting Of Congress two months after
its election expresses the fresh sentiment
Of the people. 1t voices their latest opin-
ions upon public policy. In the second
place, as now constituted by law, after a
Congress has been turned down by popu-
lar vote, 1t continues to enact legislation,
that is, at the second session. That 1 be-
lleve Is Misrepresentation. Further, in
dlNidual members, after they have been
turned down. still appear at the second sas-
sion and legislate as the representatives Of
the people who have repudiated them. I'm
Ger such circumstances the ordinary man
IS not in fit frame of mind to legislate
in behalf of the people who have refused
to indorse him. Again, when a man has
been turned down by his constituency the
future is apt to look gloomy, and if there
ever is a time when a man would do any
thing improper, it would be upon an occa-
sion such as this. 1 do not mean to say
that any members of Congress are dishon-
est, but / only wish to emphasize the fact
that the temptation to misrepreSent his
constituency would be greater.
Il make the further point that in cases
of contested elections man draws his sal
airy anywhere from twelve to twenty-five
the event that he is thrown out during all
that time the district is misrepresented.
And. lastly, l contend that Congress
which has been turned down by the peo-
pie should never be permitted to count the
vote for the election of President and Vice
President of the United States
The Hayes-Tilden Contest Recalled.
Mr. Shafroth said it was a fortunate cir
cumstance that in the case Of the Hayes
Tilden contest the House was democratic
and the Senate republican, as this fact
brought about the electoral commission,
whereas if either party had been in ma
jority in both houses and had arbitrarily
seated it's candidate a revolution would
have resulted repetition Of these condi-
tions was liable to occur at any time
Mr.. Shafroth said that he was not OPP
posed to change in the date of Inaugural
ton, and that he did not believe legislation
would be affected by having Congress con-
vene in January, even if the President did
not take his seat until the following April