Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-29
BY UNANIMOUS VOTE
Committee on Inauguration
Favors Change in Date.
APPEAL TO CONGRESS
LAST THURSDAY IN APRIL TO BE
SUGGESTED.
Views Of Governors Of States, Mem
bers of the Committee, Who
Sent Letters.
APPEAL TO CONGRESS

At the meeting of the national committee
on the proposed change of Inauguration
day yesterday afternoon, soon after The
stars report of the days proceedings ended
| 1t was decided to recommend to Congress
that the last Thursday in April be chosen
for future presidential inaugurations.
1t was decided that no action should be
taken on proposing a new date for the as
sembly of Congress- The vote was unani-
| nous.
| Gen. John NJ. Wilson, who was chairman
of the last inaugural committee, expressed
| the sense of the meeting when he moved
that, in view of the preponderance of opn-
Ion 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 Hoar's resolution, the
last Thursday in April be recommended by
the committee as the new Inauguration day.
Gov. Lea of Delaware moved that, in
order not to compicate the question and
not to seem to infringe upon the preroga-
tives of Congress, no Recommendation be
made as to the time of the assembling of
| ried.
The chairman of the committee was au-
| thoriZed to communicate the committees
| conclusion to Congress. and to arrange for
any hearings that might be necessary. The
| committee also thanked him for his SER
vices. 1t elected Waldo c. Hibis assistant
secretary and expressed appreciati ton of his
services in the correspondence with tie gov
| errors.
Local Members on Record.
OF the local members of the committee
| Justice Harlan was recorded as in favor
| of the Goth OF April, Admiral Dewey in
| favor of the last Thursday in April and
the same view was taken by John w.
Foster. Theodore w. Noyes, Gen. John NJ.
| Wilson. Charles j. Bell, John JOY Edison
| and Thomas w. Smith.
! Thrty-one governors expressed them
selves definitely regarding proposed
| change in date of Inauguration day. Two
! thirds of these favored the last Thursday
| in April, and the remaining one-th.Td were
| divided in their opinions between the 3)th
| of April and some date in May. The gov
ernors of the remaining states and terri
| tories stated they would be guided by the
| action of the comm ttee, provided the
change be made to a more agreeable time
| of the year than that on which the inaugu-
| ration now takes place.
Extracts From Letters.
Among the most interesting extracts
| from letters of the governors, read at the
| meeting were the following:
| A ]. Montague. governor IF Virginia:
| at seems to me that the controlling con-
| sderation in the selection of date for the
| Ing the west weather and some day in or
| about the middle of the week. A day of
| patriotic and historic association would be
| most desirable if not iTnpractcabe. as not
| conflicting at times with Sundays. l would
| advise against any recommendation re-
| specting change for the meeting of Con-
| gress. 1t is ineXpedient. in my Judgment,
| to cucumber the dominant question with
cola teral and disconnected proposition. A
| rigid adherence to the main question and
| its appropriate presentation are most likely
| to effect the proposed change
| William l. Douglas governor of Massa-
| chusetts:
Il think it inexpedient for the committee
| to advocate the selection of any particular
| day such as April 20 but am strongly in
| favor of the last Thursday in April, as sug-
| gested in the late Senator Hears resolu-
| ton.
View of Gov. Blanchard.
Newton C. Blanchard governor of Louisi-
| ana:
Il think the 4th of March quite unde-
sirable Inauguration day; it should be
at least a month later. George Washing
toms inauguration day, which was the 30th
of April. is a good time, and so is the
| last Thursday in April, suggested by
| Senator Hoar.
Under our institutions the lower house
| of Congress is supposed to represent i'm
mediately the sentiment of the people by
whom, directly, they are elected. AS mat
tiers now stand, however, a member of Con-
| gress (unless an extra session is called is
not sworn in. and does not take his seat
until thirteen months after his election, by
| which time he may not be in accord, in
many matters of Importance with his con-
stituents. The Constitution should be so
| amended that a Congress elected early in
November should begin its session early in
December following
Noon of May 1.
W. NJ. o. Dawson, governor of West Nlr-
| C;pta Wiz ba 70 how ba
next President serve until noon Of May
instead of March 4. and have the term of
| succeeding Presidents begin at noOn of
| May 1 and expire in four years. 1 do not
think it would be expedient to advocate
the six-year term with eligibility TO the
| succeeding term"
| John G. Brady, governor of Alaska: Il
am in entire sympathy with the object OF
the committee and favor the last Thursday
in April rather than the Both thereof.
George c. Pardee, governor of California !:
| Since Washington, our first President, WIS
| inaugurated on the goth day of April, 1t
would be very appropriate to fix on that
date as the new inauguration day for future
| Presidents. Concerning the date of the
meeting of Congress. it seems to me that
Congress Itself Is the best judge
A Preferable Date.
f. Y. Sarles, governor of North Dakota:
either the Both of April or the last Thurs
day in April would be more preferable than
the present time. as many of the states
| legislatures are in session the fore part of
| March,"
John c. Cutler. governor of Utah: 81 am
strongly in favor of the proposed change to
some time in the latter part of April or
early In May. The present time, March 4,
Is inconvenient as nearly all state legisla-
lures are in session, thus denying the OPP
portunity to many who would otherwise at
tend the inaugural ceremonies
F. M. Warner, governor of Michigan: cit
| would seem to me preferable to follow the
suggestion In Senator Hoar's resolution and
fix Inauguration day for the last Thursday
In April"
Joseph w. Folk, governor of Missouri II
believe 1t is manifest to all that the present
! Inauguration day, March 4. comes too early
In the season for outdoor exercises, and
that either the Both OF April or the last
Thursday In April. as suggested In Senator