The Washington herald., 1910-11-15
REFORM SHOULD TAKE PLACE.
Too Long a Period Between Election
and Converting Of Congress-


From the Philadeiphia Record
Attention has frequently been drawn
TO the anomaly in our system of govern
ment that the Congress elected in Noyem-
Der does not meet until December OF the
following year. In no country where
parliamentary institutions pertain is A
term OF more than a year permitted to
elapse between the election of a repre-
sentative assembly and installation in the
seat of power. In England the newly
chosen Parliament meets within four or
five weeks after the writs of election
have gone forth. IN no other countries
that have representative assemblies Is
the interval longer than two or three
months, and our own State legislatures
generally meet in the January or Feb
ruary following the November balloting.
AS The Washington Herald correctly
remarks. the present system Is a relic
of the tedious and inconvenient methods
of travel a century ago. At the present
time. when members can get to the Cap
itai from the farthest ends OF the country
within four or FIVE days. the delay OF the
meeting of a new Congress for thirteen
months after it's election is an absurdity.
It Is something worse than an absurdity,
however. that party majority which
has been voted out of Office should re-
main in practical control of affairs for
another entire year. and should continue
to legisIate after il has been repudiated
at the polls This could happen in no
country but ours. Unfortunately, a
complete remedy would be impossible
without a constitutional amendment.
The term or the outgoing Congress does
not expire until four months after ma
tional election. The situation is further
complicated by the fact that the new
Senators cannot be elected until the State
legislatures meet. The nearest date fol-
lowing the November balloting that a
new Congress could conveniently and
| legally assemble would, therefore. be
March (.
There IL no constitutional or other i'm
pedlment to setting this day for the
meeting. The Constitution. indeed. does
name the first Monday in December, but
IL expressly authorizes Congress by law
to appoint a different day" Republi-
| can House. out OF partisan considera-
| lions, might be averse TO expediting the
/ incoming of a House OF opposite political
/ complexion, and probably no action OF
!
! the Cannon-Aldrich standpatters.
There Is another possible method, how
ever. whereby the same end could DO
| secured. The President might call Con-
/ gress in special session. President TAFT
/ did this at the beginning Of his admin
/ istration for the purpose OF revising the
/ tariff. in accordance with the general
sentiment OF the country then prevalent
/ Now, the recent elections signify nothing
/ more clearly than the utter reputation
/ by the people Of the downward reFl-
! sion" accomplished at the special session
/ OF 1909 A President regarding himself
as the representative of the whole ma
/ ton, and are not merely OF q party, should
| be impelled by a sense OF duty 10 accept
/ the popular verdict and 10 call at the
/ earliest possible day Congress so man
/ ifestly elected by the people 10 do their
viii. The new Congress could meet on
March next Why should not the
march forth OF standpatism be hurried?