Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-28
The Inauguration Date.

For vears mast each inauguration has re-
suited in a renewed agitation for a change
of the date. Four years ago 1t look the
form of a general interstate organizatlon'
inspired by the efforts of local citizens ana
officials who most keenly felt the need of
a shift in the program and believed that
the movement for reform would be ac-
CELEBRATED If demanded by the officials and
people of the states. But despite formld-
able showing of public opinion unanimous
ly favoring the change to later date IN
the spring, Congress took no practical heed
of the matter. and after few futile DIS
cussions in committee it was dropped, as
formerly to rest among the unsolVed PROB
lens of legislation.
This proposition to rearrange the national
calendar to secure a more clement day Tor
the Inauguration offers two phases, one
strictly pertaining to that occasion ITSELF
and the other affecting the more or less
related question of the time of the meet
ing of Congress. In its own terms the
proposal to shift the date of the Presidents
induction into office is comparatively sim
ple 1t involves merely the extension or
the term of the incumbent for a short
period and correspondingly the term OF
the retiring Congress. But the moment
it is sought to accompany this reform with
Others designed to bring Congress into
session more quickly after it's election, the
case becomes complex.
The people of Washington who quad
rennially witness the sufferings of many
thousands of visitors from all the states,
are concerned solely in securing later
date for the inauguration. If that can be
gained without reference to the correlated
question affecting Congress they would be
glad to concentrate strictly upon that eff
fort But If in the judgment of the legis-
lators no other inaugural date can be
named without readjusting the whole con-
gressional scheduled proposition with
which they do not agree-they will become
earnest advocates of that project as well,
in order to secure the end which they SO
earnestly desire.
To bring Congress into regular session
shortly after it's election involves the cur
tallment or the frightening Of the term of
one Congress by a session. 1t also ac-
cording to some views calls for mid
winter Inaugural ton, if the President is to
take office simultaneously with the seating
of the new Congress 1t also affects the
question of the presidential election, which
is now formally determined by the retiring
houses AS it affects the Inauguration
question it is an exceedingly difficult puzzle
to solve. But there is no necessity what
ever for merging the two questions. 1t is
possible without straining the system of
government subverting any of the vital
principles upon which the republic is
founded to lengthen the second session of
the retiring Congress in order to administer
the oath to the President at a season when
an outdoor pageant is. possible and safe
and when great numbers of the people
can, without danger to their lives, assemble
to witness the supreme act of free govern
ment
Considering the volume of sentiment on
this subject. the urgent practical reasons
in favor of the change and the utter lack
of reasonable objections the marvel is that
the necessary amendment has not long
ago been adopted, relieving the country of
a four-yearly menace.