Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-17
EARLY ACTION SOUGHT
Growing Demand for Inau-
guration Date Change.
DANGER LYING IN DELAY
Congress Should Do It and Do It
Now"
EXPRESSIONS, ALL ONE WAY
Prospect of the Passage Of the Depew
Resolution or One Similar Seems
to Be the Best.
EXPRESSIONS, ALL ONE WAY

There is now not a shadow of doubt
rema aiming with respect to the sentiment
of the House of Representatives with
reference to the proposed change in the
date of the Inauguration of future Presi-
dents and Vice Presidents of the United
States from the fourth OF March to the
last Thursday in April or whereabouts
And Whereabouts" is used because a
number of members favor setting the
date even later and making these cere-
monies come I'm the early part of May
But most of these gentlemen preface
the announcement Of their preference in
this direction with the statement that
they would vote for any change which
would be an improvement over the pres
ent proposition.
In the Senate the expression of opin-
ion, while it has not been SO general or
SO decided-tbe very nature Of that dig
nified. deliberate body preventing that
has been sufficient TO indicate that the
DeDew resolution or one similar thereto,
having for its object the changing of the
Constitution of the United States. with
the consent Of three-fourths of the SOW
ereign states of the Union, has the best
kind of chance Of passage at the pres
ent special session of Congress.
Friends Of the movement, and they are
legion, are worrying, not on account OF
opposition to the proposed change. but
rather because of the fear that unless
something is done Immediately the crowd
ing of current issues or the growth of
apathy among members of the Senate and
House and OF the legislatures of the sew
eral states may result j Indicating the
much needed, even imperative, reform.
They feel that Congress should do 1t
and do it now
Here are some further expressions of
opinion ON the subject from members OF
Congress-:
Senator Piles, Washington:
Il have no hesitancy in saying that /
believe such an amendment would be a
wise one. l incline to the view that the
last Thursday in April would be a suita-
bic time. 1 am not, however. welded to
any particular date, but I should like to
see 1t changed to time when We might
reasonably expect good weather.
The people of the United States are
deeply interested in the inaugural cere-
monies-so much SO that a large number
come here from long distances. and at
considerable expense, to witness them;
and / believe that everything should be
done that can be done to give the people
an opportunity to see these ceremonies In
fair weather. i regard Washington as
one of the most attractive cities In the
world in the springtime. and I should be
glad, indeed. to have as many people as
possible visit it at that season of the
year.
"A change in the date of Inauguration
to about the time mentioned would, be-
lieve. meet with general approval through
out the country
Senator Dixon, Montana:
II am heartily in favor of the proposed
change. My judgment is that while the
experience Of the recent inauguration day
is fresh in mind the matter should be
urged upon Congress
Representative Burgess, Texas:
II heartily favor such change. and IA
vor it so strongly that i would agree
to almost any date that could be made a
success.
PERSONALLY. believe there should be
change as to the election, the converting
of Congress and the Inauguration, all
around into coordination; say for the
election to be in July. and the Inaugural
ton and converting OF Congress thereun-
der in the latter part of September, in
October. i think this would be better
than the mere postponement of the inau-
guraI until some day in April, as pro-
posed.
Representative Hughes, New Jersey:
Il am in favor of changing the date to
the LIST of May or Whereabouts.
Representative Langham, Penn:
II am heartily in accord with the prop
osition to change the date of the inaugu-
raj ceremonies from the 4th Of March to
the last Wednesday of April
Representative Hay, Virginia:
II am in favor of changing the date Of
the Inauguration Of future Presidents. l
would be in favor of fixing the date early
In May, say the first Wednesday of that
month"
Representative Ellis, Missouri:
II am In favor of changing the date of
Inauguration to April 80 and will sup
port a measure looking to that end
Representative Weeks, Mass:
81 am i'm favor of changing the date
TO one near the list of May. From every
standpoint I think a change desirable. and
hope that / shall have an opportunity to
vote for it.
Representative Creager, Okla:
Il shall be very glad to render what
ever aid / can in procuring the passage
and adoption of the amendment with ref