Evening star., 1902-03-03
Thirty Governors Favor the
Proposed Change.
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION RE-
GENTLY ADOPTED BY SENATE.
Question to Be Brought Before House
Of Representatives by Formal
Action.

The District Commissioners have so far
received favorable responses from the gov
ernors Of thirty states to the letters Of in
vitation sent the various state executives
asking them to serve on national commit
tee which will urge Congress to adopt an
amendment to the Constitution by which
| a change in the date of the Inauguration or
the President of the United States will be
| brought about. No destinations have been
received, and the Commissioners expect to
hear from the remaining fifteen governors
within the next ten days. Just as soon as
all the responses are In Mr.. II. b. r. Mac
farland, president of the District board,
will call meeting of the committee. Some
| Of the governors may come on to Washing
| ton. but it is believed that the work OF the
committee can just as we'll be carried on
| by correspondence. All of the governors
Will be asked to give expression OF their
views on the subject and to suggest the
| method OF procedure that appeals to them.
1t Is believed that the committee having
| the matter in charge will adopt the resou-
tion recently passed by the United States
Senate providing for an amendment TO the
Constitution fixing upon the last Monday
| in April as the date for the President TO
| take office. This resolution was introduced
| by Senator Hoar and was passed by the
necessary majority. April 30 was gener-
| ally discussed at first the most appro-
| pirate time for the inaugura ton, especially
from sentimental standpoint, as 1t
| on the Both Of that month that George
Washington was first inaugurated, the
ceremony taking place in New York. For
| reasons of state, well as for the
| venience Of those arranging for the inaugu-
ration and those desiring to attend II. II
has been deemed wise by many to fix
given day of the week In order that there
| may be no further danger of inauguration
| day falling on Sunday. with the ensuing
perplexity as to who Is in authority
| that day.
Previous Action by Senate.
The Senate has twice before passed a
| resolution calling for change In the date
| Of the inauguration, but the movement has
| failed in the House because of q lack of
concerted action The committee now in
process of organization will decide upon
| the manner in which the matter shall be
Immediately brought to the attention OF
the House. The effort will be to have Con-
| gress act finally upon the matter at this
| session. so that during the recess the rati-
| fication of the necessary number OF states
may be obtained. The governors will prob
] ably present the question to the state legis-
latureS by means Of special messages on
| the subject. If the House concurs In the
Senate resolution before adjourning In the
summer. the governors will ask the legis-
| latures to ratify the proposed amendment.
In case the House fails to act the govern
| ors will probably bring this matter to the
attention Of the legislatures and have the
| states join in petition to Congress for
| the readjustment of the national calendar
| 1t Is confidently believed that before the
| President the date will be changed and a
| long-discussed and generally approved
| reform will be in effect.
The Favorable Responses.
| The governors who have so far consented
to serve are follows:
Maine. John F. Hill: Montana, ]. X.
Toole; North Carolina. Charles b. Avcock:
| Woc nOtn Mnpr n
| kota, Charles N. Heriod; Nebraska, Asa p.
| Savage: Pennsylvania, William A. Stone;
Massachusetts,. W. NJ Crane: Georgia. A,
Idaho, F. W. Hunt Oregon, T. T. Geer: In.
diana, w. T. Durbin! Virginia, A. ]. Mon
tague; Colorado. James B: Ornran; Mime
sofa. 8: r. Van SAINT; Utah. Heber NJ.
Wells: Maryland. John Walter Smith: Kan
sas. w. E. Stanley: Iowa. Albert B. Cum
MINIS; Florida, w. S. Jennings; Vermont,
| William NJ. Saickney: New Jersey Frank
Nevada. Reinhold sadler; Missouri. A. NJ
Dockery; New Hampshire. Chester B. Jor-
dan; Michigan. A T. Bliss; West Virginia,
Albert B. White. and Delaware, John
| HUM.
The local members Of the committee have
all accepted. as follows: Lieutenant Cen
| eral Nelson A. Miles, commanding the
| army; Admiral George Dewey Of the navy.
| Mr.. John Joy Edison, chairman OF the in
| augural committee Of 1901; Justice John NJ.
| Harlan Of the United States Supreme Court,
Commissioner Henry B. +. Macfarland. Mr..
| John w. Foster. Mr.. Charles J. Bell. MI.
| Charles C. Glover, Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes,
| Mr.. Beriah Wilkins. Mr.. Frank A. Munsey,
| General Henry V. Boynton. Mr.. Thomas
| w. Smith, president Of the Board or Trade,
| and Mr.. s. w. Woodward.
Started by Inaugural Committee.
The national committee in process OF or
| ganization is the result OF resolution
passed by the last inaugural committee just
prior to It's final adjournment. That resoiu-
! ton recited the fact that a change In the
| date Of the inauguration OF the President OF
the United States had long been deemed
most desirable reform. and requested the
District Commissioners to undertake the
| appointment and organization of commit
| tee having the proposed change for it's pur-
| pose. Commissioner Facfarland, as presi-
dent Of the District board. took the matter
| in hand, and after consulting with Chair
| man Edison of the inaugural committee the
| personnel of the national body was decided
upon. AS the states Will have largely 70 40
| with the necessary amendment to the Com
| stitutiOn Il was thought that the governors
| Of the various states should form the main
| body of the committee.
Letters of invitation were accordingly ad-
| dressed to the state executives. and the re-
| sponses so far received by the Commission
| ers have been framed with expression OF
the heartiest approval OF the project The
governors heard from have stated. as
| rule that they have long thought there
should be a change Of date, and are ready
| and willing TO DO ali IN tneiT power W W ihe
about the desired readjustment. The Com
missioners are much encouraged at the suc-
| cess met in their preliminary efforts. and
| feel that at last the much-discussed and
| lonR-desired change Is about to be enected.
| The passage Of the Hoar resolution py the
Senate simplifies matters a great deal, and
| II is believed that it Is only necessary to
properiy present the matter to the House
| and have some one champion the resolution
| to secure the speedy concurrence of the
lower branch Of Congress.
Was Not Discharged.
In the course Of an article on Indian