The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-06
COMMITTEE TO ACT
ON PROPOSED DATE
Purpose Is to Change Ilaug-
uraI Day to Late in April.
SPEAKER CANNON APPROVES
Local Men On National Committee
on Change in Inaugural Date VIII
Hold Meeting Next Wednesday.
Original Membership Is Increased
by Addition of washingtOnians.

/ - ---~OS-4-e u Tic " washington members
OF the national committee on the proposed
change in Inauguration date has been
called for next Wednesday by Commits
sioner mcfarland, chairman.
/ The immediate purpose Of the meeting
Is to adopt plans for pressing in the Six
ty-frSt Congress. or, II possible. in the
extra session, the resolution twice adopt-
ed by the Senate on the committee's
recommendation changing the inaugura-
ton date TO the last Thursday in April.
TO the original members OF the com-
mittee. E J. stellwagen. chairman Of the
inaugural comElittee OF 1909; EdEar D.
Shaw, John r. Mclean, ]. H. Small. r..
president Of the Board Of Trade. w F
GUIDE. president of the Chamber Of Com
merce. and Scott c. Bone have been
added.
The original members are H. B. F. Mac
farland, chairman: James L. Norris. sec
rotary; Thomas ". Smith. John " Eos
ter, Admiral George Dewey, Gen. Nelson
4 Miles, c. J. Bell, S. w. Woodward
Z. c Glover. Frank A. Munsey, John JOY
Eoson. Gen John II. Wilson, Theodore
W Noyes, Justice John Marshall Harlan,
and ". B. Hibbs.
LAST Thursday in April.
Mr. mcfarland said yesterday that he
saw no reason why a resolution providing
for change Of day 10 the last Thursday
In April, the time agreed upon by the
national committee. should not be intro
dueed al the extra session beginning
March Is The Senate Judiciary Commit
tee he said, would continue IN being.
and the Senate could act upon the matter
II the House deferred action.
The sooner It was acted upon. he said.
the sooner It could receive the necessary
action by the necessary number OF Iegis-
latures OF the States for the adoption Of
an amendment 10 the Constitution: that
Il would take all the time until mex: inau-
guraJion time to change the date. He
said the national committee had consid-
cred the question OF asking the President
70 advocate the change In a message to
Congress, and had determined that mas
much as the change would extend the
Presidents term from the 4th OF March
until the last Thursday IN April. he might
feel delicacy in recommending It. How
ever. he said the question Of asking the
President 70 consider the matter would
come up again in the deliberations OF the
national committee
The last Thursday in April was selected
On the advice OF Senator Hoar, then chair
man OF the judiciary Committee Of the
Senate. who took q deep interest IN the
matter, and day CT the week rather
than a day Of the month was chosen. be-
cause Il would avoid all complications
with Sunday; even when Inauguration
day came on Saturday or Monday. Il
involved peculiar difficulties for the local
authorities in the administration OF the
excise and other laws. Thursday would
give ample timesfor the final preparations /
for inauguration week
IndeIibIe Impression.
NJ. mcfarland hoped the experiences
Of Thursday would leave an indelible I'm
preston on the minds Of Senators and
so that the resolutions
might receive favorable consideration at
an early day.
NO further argument Is needed. said
West. for a change in the I
date Of Inauguration. The record of the !
last twenty years shGys that favorable I
weather on the 4th OF March IS exception
al. but Thursdays blizzard demonstrated 4
beyond any doubt that Washington at
this season OF the year is subject 10 4
weather conditions which can be avoid l
ed only by making April 80 the date for
the ceremony. Inasmuch as George
took the oath Of Office on the
50th Of April. il would be very appropri-
"a 70 70 SLle k4-~O-4o 10
The lives and health OF thousands Of
persons were jeopardized by the inclem-
ency OF the weather, while the impressive
spectacle Of the President OF the United
States taking the oath OF Office in the
presence Of a large eoncourse OF his fell
ow-cItizens was made impossible. There
should be no delay in bringing 20 an ef-
-ective result the movement which has
been long IN progress for q change Of
late"
II would favor May as the date
II Inauguration said Speaker Cannon
"and as one Representative in
congress, win lend my aid TO efforts 10
make Il So
IF the change IS made the date might
IS well be fixed later than April, for
ven an April rain would cause great
discomfort, and should think that 3ray
you'd promise more certainty OF fal-
Teather"
It is believed that after the tariff 80
.Oa bill is passed by the House
While the Senate Is considering II, a..
vill be ample time for the former roes Z
oaRass a bill changing the inauguratlS : :
ate IN both bodies the opinion IN favor
( a change seems practically unani-
nous