Evening star., 1902-04-25
INAUGURATION DAY
Hearing on Proposition to
Change the Date.
THE BEST ARGUMENT
MR.. MACFARLAND POINTS TO
WEATHER OF YESTERDAY.
Questions Asked by Members Of the
House Judiciary Committee-A
Matter Of Sentiment.
THE BEST, ARGUMENT


last Thursday in April was taken UP by
the judiciary committee Of the House this
morning.
Commissioner Macfarland, chairman Of
the national committee, and ex-Secretary
John w. Foster, John Joy Edison, Charles
J. Bell Gen. H. v. Boynton, Charles C.
Glover, James L. Norris and Thomas w.
Smith were the members of the committee
present. In speaking Of the proposition Mr..
Mcfarland called attention to the beauti-
full weather of yesterday, which was the
last Thursday in April, and compared it
WIN the usual weather of the 4th of March.
Commissioner Macfarland's Remarks.
Commissioner Mcfarland said: "The ma
tional committee on the proposed change
Of inauguration day, composed Of the gov
ernors of forty-five states and territories
and fifteen residents of the District of
Columbia, asks that Inauguration day be
changed to the last Thursday In April.
The perfect weather of yesterday is our
best argument It stands in shining con-
trast to the cold, stormy and therefore dam
gerous weather so often occurring n the
4th Of March. Inauguration day weather
has been fatal in many cases, and is liable,
to be a menace to the health Of the Presf-
dent and all the other persons taking part
in the inauguration. as well as the specta-
as expressed by the newspapers and by the
governors is practically unanimous in favor
of the change of date. 1t is hoped that the
committee on the judiciary will act favor
ably on the proposition. It is especially
desired that the committee may report
promptly whatever proposition seems in its
wisdom most acceptable, SO that action
may be had in the House which may re-
suit in an agreement between the two
houses before the close of this session of
Congress. 1t is necessary that Congress
should act at this session in order that the
state legislatures may act before the next
inauguration. The national committee Of
fers no suggestion to any other question
tnan that of the change Of Inauguration
day, except that 1t Is expedient, II any
proposition for the change in the term of
Congress is coupled with it, it may be of
such a character as to command the sup
port of two-thirds Of the House. The de-
sired change of inauguration day would
have been made long ago but for the COM
plications caused by differences as to the
beginning or ending Of the terms of Con-
gress.'
Questions by Committee.
Mr.. Jenkins of the committee wanted to
know what guarantee would be given that
if the Constitution was changed the weather
would be good in April. Mr.. Macfarland
answered that yesterday was the best ex-
hibit that could be offered but the record
Of the past generally was referred to-
Besides the question of weather Mr.. Jen-
kins suggested there were other complica-
tions which he believed the country would
not indorse the change, and which he be-
lieved could not be separated from it. Mr..
Macfarland said 1t was the desire Of the
national committee not to hamper the pro-
ject with other questions.
Chairman Ray asked If any state legisla- |
ture had memOrialized Congress for the
change. The answer was that SO far as
known to Mr.. Macfarland no such action
had been taken, but the Endorsement of the |
governors of nearly every state, he sug
gested, was a sufficient expression of pub
lie opinion.
Mr.. Ray then asked what objection there |
would be to having the session of Congress
begin and the term of the President begin
on the 1st of January, and have the inau- |
gural ceremony take place later. Mr.. Mac |
farland said he was not authorized to
speak for the national committee on that |
point. He knew that such a proposition
had not been considered.
Chairman Rays Feeling.
Mr.. Ray then gave the following express
sion of his evident feeling in the matter: |
'1f you undertake to change the date Of
and the terms of senators |
simply on account of the weather you are |
with the traditions of more than |
a century, and the practices of the govern |
ment for more than a century, and the |
Constitution of our country, upon, 1t seems |
to me, the most trivial ground, and that is |
simply to get good weather on inaugura- |
ton"
Mr.. Ray said it was evidently the inten-
ton of the founders of the republic in fix |
ing the date of the beginning of Congress |
to place that date far enough away from |
election so that the heat of the political
battle might have time to completely cool |
down and pass over.
Mr.. Macfarand said he would leave with |
the committee carefully compiled sugges- |
tions by member Of the national commit |
tee presenting a plan for having one Con- |
gress. with three sessions. and skipping |
one congressional election in order that the |
change in the date Of meeting might be |
properly effected.
Mr.. Ray wanted to know If the national |
committee would favor two long sessions of |
every Congress. Mr.. Macfarland said he |
personally saw objection to such plan. |
In answer to what Mr. Ray had said Mr.. |
Macfarland suggested that the question |
was not a trivial one, but very important |
one. Congress is now considering a BILL" |
he continued, "for the better protection of |
the life of the President. 1t would seem |
just as important that he should be pro- |
tected from fatal disease thrust upon him |
by the weather on his Inauguration day as |
it is that he should be protected from the |
assassin, and the President is not the only
one to be considered.'
Mr.. Edson's Proposition.
Mr.. Edison stated that he would present to
the committee later the record of tempera- |
ture and rainfall on each 4th Of March and |
each last Thursday in April since 1871. |
Mr. Edison did not think the matter |
trivial one. 1t was true the Inauguration |
might be conducted without provision for |
any public ceremonies, but, he said, the |
people Of the country took more interest |
in the details Of a presidential inaugura- |
tion than any other incident. While it |
might be considered a matter Of sentiment,
it took sentiment to fight battles. |
Mr.. Norris spoke briefly of the cold rain |
and sleet which prevailed at the second In |
auguration of President Cleveland, when it |
was necessary to take rugs from the COM
mittee rooms to protect the presidential |
party and members of the Supreme Court |
from the cold and wet. The hospitals of
the city were filled with people who had |
come here to witness the Inauguration, and |
many people died as the result
Mr.. Jenkins suggested that there was |
nothing in the Constitution which referred |
to the date of inauguration to the date |
Congress should begin Its sessions He |
asked IL the committee represented had |
looked up this question. Mr.. Macfarland !
replied that it had not, and suggested that
II this was SO it would simplify the whole |
matter,
Mr. Fowler said the date was fixed by
the Continental Congress, and as It had |
never been changed, custom would doubt