Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22

To the Editor OF The Star:
From time to time for years have no
ticed your forceful editorials relative to
a change of date for the inauguration of
our Presidents.
Notwithstanding all that has been said
there are some statesmen on the hill who
seem to think the request for change is
based upon a desire to get the people
here in greater numbers al a season
when they will spend their money lavish
" Some of our tradeSmen may look at
this side of the question. 1t is a ieglt1-
mate method for obtaining a livelihood.
Some of our Woodworking boarding house
keepers may make few extra dollars.
That is not an objectionable sin. But
thousands of us entertain our fathers
and mothers and brothers and sisters
and uncles and aunts and cousins and
lovers, and we ask for the change SO
that we may have them with us when
they can see the beauties of their Ma
tional Capital and witness the impressive
inaugural ceremonies without danger to
the health and life OF themselves and the
President, who must be out of doors for
several hours ] saw Mr.. Cleveland de-
liver his inaugural address in barred head
when the weather was so Indictment that
only robust constitution was bar to
serious results.
For our visitors in whose veins courses
can attend only one inauguration in d
lifetime, We ask this change, so that they
may be able TO witness the impressive
scene Of our Chief Justice administering
the oath of office to the President when
he promises to support the Constitution
of the United States: when he takes the
helm of the grand old ship of state to
steer her on peaceful waters II he may;
stormy, if he must.
There are Welghtier reasons for the de-
Ir; ,ho La CHI Of
gress is too short for the proper conSid-
Grafton of grave and abstruse questions
of public policy.
We need more time for exhaustive de-
bate of important questions. Let us have
it by changing the date of the Inaugural
ton and lengtheninS the short session to
that date. Then we will have more i'm
portaDt laws enacted. fewer ineffective
ones and a higher appreciation Of the
dignity of the law.
There are those who object to this de-
sired change upon the high plane that
the reasons do not Justify change of
our Constitution. 1t is time-honored
instrument, the profonndest product of
the statesmen of the age of its concep-
ton, or perhaps any age, but this pro-
posed change simply gives more time in
which to carry out the ends and aims of
it's founders. All honor to Hamilton.
Madison, Franklin, Webster and the other
great and patriotic makers and expound-
efS OF our tOUStllutlOii. WHICH Has Dee1l
our fundamental law for almost a CEN
fury and half. and now needs only more
time for the working out of the principles
of government as therein embodied.
If our republic live until the mountains
are washed into the sea, no stronger rea-
son for change or amendment of the
Constitution can arise than this. that the
short session should be heightened in
order that the intention of its founders
may be carried out, namely. the enact
ment, Interpretation and execution of the
wisest laws for all the people.
In the light of past experience and pres
ent demands the date for the Inaugural
ton of our Presidents should be later
than the 4th of March.
JOHN X. HENCH