Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-13

A change in the date of the Inauguration
is admitted by virtually all national legisla-
tors to be an urgent need. There is scarcely
member Of either house of Congress who
does not agree that March is a dangerous
time for holding the ceremony, and If there
were no complicating factors in the problem
it is altogether likely that there would be
little difficulty in the passage Of the joint
resolution providing for a constitutional
amendment to that effect But whenever
the matter has reached the stage of action
II has been set back by coupling with the
comparatively simple shift from March to
April 80 in all matters now affected by the
close of the presidential and congressional
terms on the former date the proposition to
secure a more logical date for the assem-
bling of Congress. The former proposition
involves virtually no difficulties: the latter
precipitates a puzzling chain Of complica-
tions
Unquestionably in a practical sense the
demand for an earlier meeting Of Congress
after election is more important than that
for later inauguration date. The country
has decided that period of thirteen months
is too long to wait for the starting of the
new legislatures work after the election.
But to bring Congress in session on the
first of January after election as has
been proposed would make it impossible for
the retiring Congress to canvass the presi-
Dental vote and declare the election as is
now contemplated by the Constitution with
out calling that Congress in extra session
after its expiration Immediately the puz-
zle becomes difficult of solution Further
more to cause Congress to assemble shortly
after election calls for the shortening or
Ion tD,r,, inc 90
session.
To secure a, later date for the Inaugural
ton 1t is necessary only to provide that from
and after the taking effect of the amend
ment the presidential term shall begin and
end on the Both of April, and that the term
of the existing Congress shall end on that
date. and that all pending official terms.
otherwise closed on the 4th of March of the
year on which the amendment takes effect,
shall be extended to April 30. This will give
the retiring President and members of Con-
gress of the year of taking effect eight
weeks more of service, an advantage scarce
ly to be begrudged by the people and GER
tainly by no means dangerous to the popu-
lar liberties
1t is to be hoped that the change-of-date
proposition will be kept strictly separate
from any other scheme for readjusting the
national calendar when the matter is re-
vived, as proposed, by the national commit
tee appointed three years ago. 1t is now
announced that work is to be vigorously re-
sumed on this propaganda, with the death
of Senator Bate as an additional incentive
and argument. Despite the failure of the
elements to lash all visitors to Washington
week before last with snow and rain and
wind and cold, and to render their partici-
patton III the affair dangerous, the public at
large thoroughly understands that a grave
risk is always run whenever the Inaugural
ton is visited by tens of thousands This is
too high price 10 pay for further con-
sentative adherence to an established date