Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-07
SUCCESS OF RESOLUTION
BELIEVED TO BE CERTAIN
Representative Henry of Texas to
Press for Adoption.
MAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSES
Last Thursday in April Substituted
for Fourth Of March-General
Elections First Tuesday
in April

AT last Congress IS to act on the prop
osition to change the date Of inaugural
ing the President from the 4th of March
to the last Thursday in April Represent
ative Henry of Texas. chairman OF the
committee on rules. and consistent cham
pion of this change OF date, which is so
ardently desired by residents of the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, and. for that matter,
by people all over the country. has
celved assurances from leaders Of the
democratic House and the republican
Senate that his resolution putting the
change into effect will go through both
branches.
Mr. Henry is much encouraged. He
called attention yesterday to the fact that
In the last Congress the resolution was
called up in the House under suspension
of the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote
for passage. and failed by only one-third
of vote. Since that time he has talk
ed to practically every member OF the
House. and is convinced that when his
resolution comes UP again it will have
substantial majority. He has no objection
TO the resolution being amended IN i'm
portant particulars, insisting merely that
the last Thursday in April shall be re-
tanned as the new inaugural date.
Suggested by Directors.
When the resolution was before the
+, House in the last session, the complaint
was made that it aggravated the existing
evil Of the long interval between the cleo
ton of members of the House Of Repre-
sentatives and the convening of the
| Congress in which they took an active
| part. That IS, members are now elected
/ in November. and barring the possibility
| of an extra session. do not take their
/ seats until the first of December OF the
next ear, an interval of thirteen months.
| The Henry resolution. as originally re-
ported, while IL does not lengthen this
| interval. would postpone for two months
| the actual beginning of the service OF
members of the House. and would other
| wise disarrange the present system with
| respect TO the change of administration.
Opposition Overcome.
Mr. Henry has now overcome great
deal of opposition along this line 10y pro
posing that the general elections shall DO
held the first Tuesday in April, thus Great
ing an extremely short interval between
the election and seating of members vi
the House, and doing away with the short
session Of an Old Congress following the
election of new one He has not IN
corpordted this amendment IN ms TeSo!u-
tion as introduced, but is willing TO accept
| ii, and will support it
! Mr.. Henry is thoroughly in accord with
| the efforts of prominent local citizens TO
effect a change in the inaugural date, and
| as a result OF his efforts Is now convinced
| that the Congress- at the present special
| session. will pass his resolution. and VIII
/ put the proposition up To the states, three
/ fOurt hs OF which must indors. II before
! it can go into effect. But inasmuch as
| the governors of every state in the Union
ndorsed his resolution two years ago
| and as many legislatures, by resolution
and petition, went on record as IaNorin,
! it, he has no idea other than that the
| constitutional amendment will he agreed
| to in record time.