Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-01
CHANGING INAUGURATION DATE.
State Governors Line Up in Favor of
Retiring March 4.
NeW YOrk TrIbune.

New York Tribune.
We are glad to learn that the agitation
for a constitutional amendment changing
the date Of the presidential inauguration,
revived in Washington last March. is maxi
ing substantial headway. Our Washington
dispatches report that forty-one governors
of states and territories have agreed to
serve on the committee which will draw
the necessary amendment and urge It's ac-
ceptance by congress and its ratification
by the state legislatures. The committee
will organize in November and will ask
the Fifty-ninth congress to approve and
submit the amendment as soon as practical
BILE. The change proposed-whatever may
be its exact and final form-win not take
effect until 1913, so that ample time will
be given for all the states to act The leg
islatures of Mississippi and Louisiana will
not meet again In regular session until
1908. Virginia's legislature, II II adjourns
next year before an amendment can be
submitted will not meet again until 1910
1t is apparent therefore. that the change
desired can be effected only tardily, and
that the committee is wise both in plan
ming far ahead and In making a start as
early as possible.
The letters written by the governors who
have accepted appointments to the commit
tee show that the reform proposed COM
mends itself TO general favor. The Wash
ington members OF the committee seem 10
have emphasized successfully the desirable
ity of escaping the perils and discomforts
OF midwinter Inauguration. They cited
the fatalities due TO exposure on March 4
last, though the last Inauguration day
compared with many Others was clement
and genial Three distinguished partici-
In he
lives this year TO the exiKencies OF an
unreasonable outdoor spectacle Manuel
de Aspiroz, the ambassador of Mexico,
Senator William B. Bate OF Tennessee. and
Justice Lawrence Weldon OF the United
States court of claims, required by eti-
quette to take part in the exercises on the
Capitol steps, all died a result OF illness
there contracted. The public is beginning
10 realize that II is both cruel and sense
less 70 invite-and In a measure compel
the justices OF the supreme court. the
other justices resident in Washington. the
diplomatic corps, the cabinet and the mem
bers OF both branches of congress to sit or
stand unsheltered through what is often a
half-hour ceremonial in a drenchinE rain.
The perils and annoyances OF such a
stupid adherence to tradition and the dis
comforts caused TO the thousands who
bNeAASA ~ " aHiAlllk loll 10 ENJOY the lnauR-
uration display are accepted by the state
executives generally as sufficient ground
for reforming our badly regulated political
calendar.
We hope, however, that II the calendar is
TO be revised, congress will accept no such
compromise as merely postponlng the date
OF the inauguration for seven or eight
weeks. without actually changing the date
on which the terms Of the new president
and the new congress begin. II a presi-
dent takes once on March 4 and one con.
gress gives way for another on that date.
March 4 must remain the pivotal day IN
! our political year, and to celebrate an an
niYersary two months after II has really
occurred hardly accords with American
standards OF fitness and practical sense.
We might as we'll postdate the Christmas
holidays and celebrate them In April or
May. II is as highly desirable 10 lengthen
the present short session OF congress as
II is to escape the annoyances Of a winter
season inauguration. and the shifting OF
the division line between presidential terms
| from March I TO April 30 would kill both
| birds with one stone.