Evening star., 1909-03-06

Positive evidence that the movement
that was started last Thursday to change
the date for the Inauguration of the Pres
ident and Vice President of the United
States is not all talk was forthcoming
in the Senate today. Senator Depew OF
New York presented the above joint reso-
luton 10 effect the change. He has named
the last Wednesday in April to take the
place of the 4th day of March.
Although the question was raised by
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts as To
whether or not it was proper to Introduce
a matter of general legislation at a spe-
cial session of the Senate. when the House
is not in session so important was the
resolution considered that il was allowed
To go at once TO the committee on privi-
leges and elections without objection.
There was no discussion of the merits
of the proposition at all and the silence
seemed to indicate that not single SEN
ator had any objection 10 offer t. it.
Will Follow Senate Lead.
Indications are that when the House
session March L. "A number of members
just how many il is not possible To say
will follow the lead of the Senate and in
troduce resolutions for change in the
date OF the inauguration to some time
in he latter part Of April or the first or
May. As stated yesterday in The Star.
the leaders of the House are practically
a unit in The opinion that a change OF
oI,
and that the weather of Wednesday anI
Thursday is the best argument that could
possibly be offered against the present.
conStitutionallN, liked time
The leaders however. say that Willis
they will do everything in their power IN
| bring about the first step in the proposed
change the passage Of a resolution /"
| the desired effect, which must be ratiiled
| by three-fourths of the states before the
| amendment TO the Constitution becomes
! effective there would undoubtedly be
! opposition from some quarters, and
| that the chances Of the proposition being
| brought to a successful conclusion VIII ba
| materially lesseped the longer the time
| that is permitted 10 eapse between now
and the time it is brought up for action
As Representative Cushman OF WASH
| ington put il the other day, we IL ioss
! interest in this proposed and much-need-
! cd reform just soon as our feet get dry
and we recover from colds and other
| forms OF illness brought on by the dis
/ tressing weather of the past few days.
Would Lengthen Short Session.
| There is strong sentiment at the
! Capitol in favor of moving the date for
| the Inauguration nearer to the sum-
mertime not only because OF the prac-
teal certainty of bad weather on March
! T. but because such Il change wouit
| mean "A lenthening of the short session
of each Congress. Tlns would be the
case because it is admitted that TIE
contemplated change would carry with
! il the same change in the time Tor
| the ending OF each Congress
For yearS-in fact. practically ever
| since the government oe2ail-tle ha-
! tional legislators have found the time
| between the first Monday in Decem-
| Der and March OF the next year e'i-'
| tirely too short in which 10 transact
| the business of the nation. Al the
! end of every short session there IS
| ALWAYS great congestion OF appl"-
priation bills that must be passed.
| Attitude of Senator Warren.
Senator Warren of Wyoming, chairman
of the committee on military affairs and
| n nrominent member of other committees
which handle the big appropriation
measures, was positive In his declaration
! today that the experience Of last Thurs
day and the need for longer sessions of
CONGRESS made change almost inpera-
| tive.
II have always held that view of Tho
| matter, lie said. Every time an tn~