Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-12
The Change of Date.

Next Monday the House of Representa-
tives will consider the Henry resolution
proposing an amendment to the Federal
Constitution changing the date of in
augura ton from the eth. of Marcl: to
the last Thursday in April. and effecaing
other changes in the fundamental law
to conform to the shifted schedule and to
supply deficiencies in that instrument
This resolution comes from the commit
tee on judiciary with unanimous report
in favor of its adoption. II appears in a
form which meets all the objections
raised against it when it was last in the
House and was racommitted for amend
nlent. II should be passed without ques-
ton. that the Senate. which has al
ready favored this change. may have an
opportunity To add its approval at the
present session in order to submit the
amendment to the state legislatures in
season TO affect the Inauguration of 1913.
No substantial argument has ever been
raised against the proposed change of
inaugural date to insure more clement
season for the national ceremonial. Those
who suggest that the demand for later
date is inspired by local desire for
larger crowd and a consequently heavier
profit doubtless realize in their hearts
that this is hut subterfuge OF excuse
for opposing that for which an unmistak-
able national demand has been expressed.
The spectacle offered a year ago in
March. when Il great multitude of Amer
lean people We're marooned in this city
by typical March blizzard. should for
ever discount all thought that the neces-
city for a change of inaugural date is
limit Tod nv fha oil irfn f,f
the people of Washington. Nothing is
surer than that if Congress should fail to
propose to the legislatures that the date
be changed. and the Inauguration of 19l3
is held i'm early March as heretofore, the
people will flock to Washington in the
same great numbers as in the past, char
acteristically hopeful of coed fortune and
heroically prepared to brave the possible
inclemency of typical 4th of March.
In other words. the. people are deter
mined to attend the Inauguration. what
ever the date may be. and the proposal to
shift that event to a season when the
weather viii al least be moderate, if not
absolutely fair, is in the interest of the
national health and not the local purse.
The Henry resolution carries other
propositions than the change Of date. and
its ratification by the legislatures is CAL
; -culated to simplify and rende: more GER
tain of effective operation the constitu-
tional law governing the election OF a
President and Vice President. Ii is a
carefully considered measure, upon which
the judiciary committee of the House has
spent considerable time in view of its far
reaching importance. The old prejudice
= against submitting a new amendment to
the Cons tuition to the state legislatures
has been weakened by the proposal of
the income tax amendment. The Henry
resolution carries a suggestion which
long antedates the income tax idea If
it is adopted by the House next Monday
there is every prospect that it may be
submitted 10 the state legislatures in
time to secure the assent of the necessary
three-fourths before March 4. 1918.