New-York tribune., 1905-11-29
NEW INAUGURATION DATE
LIST THURSDAY IN APRIL.
National Committee adopts Unani-
mously Proposed Change.
ITrom Ths Tribune Bureau ]

washington Nov 2S1Tne last Thursday In
April was the date unanimously adopted by the
National Committee on the Proposed Change OF
Inauguration Day. composed of fifteen Washing
tonians and the Governors OF forty-four States
and Territories, at meeting here to-day.
This recommendation will be promptly sub
mitted to Congress In the hope that an amend
ment to the constitution may be submitted 10
the people for adoption in time to make the new
date available fer the inauguration Of the Presi-
dent in 1913.
In opening the meeting Commissioner Mac
Farland, as chairman of the national committee,
briefly reviewed the work of the committee since
It began three years ago. recalling that Senator
Hoars resolution naming the last Thursday IN
April as the inauguration day in proposed
amendment to the Constitution passed the Sen
ate but did not reach a vote in the House.
He said that the death of Senator Bate, Am
bassador Aspirez and Judge Lawrence Welson
as the direct result of exposure at the last Inau-
guration Day and the death OF Senator Platt,
of Connecticut, indirectly due to the same
cause, has made great impression on the pub
lie mind. The commissioner said that the Gov
ernors had not been urged to attend this meet
ing because it was entirely feasible TO get their
advice in writing on the questions to be decided
as to the manner of presenting the matter to
Congress-. These were:
Ffrst-What day should be recommended for
the new Inauguration day and specifically which
Of the two most favored namely, the LAST
Thursday in april. suggested by Senator Hoar.
in order to avoid Sunday the the Both or
April, George Washington's first Inauguration
Second-Whether the committee should make
any recommendation to Congress as to a change
In its time OF meetingE
Some of the governors. he said. had replied
to the letter OF the chairman. asking that If
they should be unable to be present they would
leave the decision to the members of the com
mittee who might be present. their chief wish
being to have the day changed. Thirty-one Of
the governors sent positive expressions cord
tally indorsing the movement to secure date
later than March 4 and recording their vote
in favor of the last week in April.
Governors Higgins of New-York. Deneen of
Illinois Roberts of Connecticut and Pardee or
California, and General Nelson A Miles ia
vored April 30, the anniversary OF the nrst IN
auguration.
statistical report prepared Ior Lne colIlil1lIeee t
conditions the first week in March and the last
week in April from 1871, and calling attention
to the marked difference In favor or the latter
time.
Governor Lea of Delaware then presented his
views favoring the last Thursday In April. JUS
tice Harlan declared that he was in favor of
April 30 Admiral Dewey was in favor of the
last Thursday in April and the same view was
taken by John w. Foster, Theodore w. Noyes'
General John NJ. Wilson, Charles j. Bell. c.
G Glover Frank A. Munsey, John Joy Edison
and Thomas w. Smith, all agreeing that there
should be no recommendation to Congress as to
a change of the time of the assembling Of Con-
gress Thereupon General Wilson moved that
in view Of the preponderance of opinion in the
letters of the governors and the expressions
of the Washington members of the committee,
and because it was desirable to avoid having
inauguration day fall on Sunday. and because
the Senate has twice passed, in Senator Hoars
resolution the proposition, the last thursday In
April be recommended by the committee as the
new inauguration day. This motion was car
ried with practical unaninlity- Then Governor
ga moved that in order not TO complcate the
question and not to seem to infringe the
prerogatfves of Congress no recommendation
he made as to the time of the assembling Of
Congress This was unanimously carried.
THE chairman Of the committee was author
lied to communicate the committees conclusion
to Congress and to arrange for any hearings
that might be necessary.