Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-18


Texas, chairman of the committee on
rules. formally reported to the House to-
day the reolution. Of which he is the
author. proposing to change the date OF
inaugurating Presidents and Vice Presi-
dents of the United States. elected in 1916
and thereafter from the 4th of March to
the last Thursday in April. This resolu-
ton received the unanimous Endorsement
Of the committee on the judiciary Tues
day. It is confidently predicted that 1t
will pass the House with votes to spare
The report on the resolution. as pre-
pared by Mr.. Henry and submitted to-
day, discusses the proposed change OF
date, with its accompanying aboiition OF
the short session of Congress and other
important propositions. at considerable
length and goes into great detail In ex-
PLANTATION of each and every one OF the
new ideas embodied in the resolution.
NJ. Henry refers to the movement for
the change Of inaugui al date as "a great
national issue and Of vital concern to the
entire population of the United States. :
In the course of the report Mr.. Henry
and the judiciary. committee pay high
tribute to former District Commissioner
Henry B. F. Macfa rland for the assistance
rendered by him, and those working with
him for their service in creating senti-
ment favoring the proposed change.
THE committee" says the report on
this subject, lis indebted to III. B. +.
Macfarland Of Washington city and TO
his co-workers, the national committee
anfo fnv
valuable assistance, and those gentlemen
are entitled to the thanks of this commit
tee, Congress and the entire country Tor
their unceasing work and splendid serV-
ice in bringing about the sentiment Tor
the change in the date of our great
national ceremony.
The report on the resolution follows in
full:
Report on the Resolution.
..The committee on the judiciary. to
whom was referred House joint resolu-
ton No oO4, proposing an amendment to
the Constitution of the United States, has
given the same due consideration and
favorably report the same, embodying the
exact language In which the author in
troduced 1t.
Should the joint resolution be ratified
by the requisite number of states. 1t VIII
become a substitute for article IL
l2) of the Constitution as
the same now exists.
1.-The joint resolution is reported In this
form because 1t involves q change OF
article II Of the Constitution, wherein the
fourth day of March only appears in
all it's provisions.
THE resolution here reported embraces
five proposed changes in our system or
government.
First. Beginning with the Sixty-third
Congress. the term of office Of the Presi-
dent and Vice President chosen at the
election (of November. 1922 Immediately
preceding shall continue until the last
Thursday of April. 1917. at noon. and the
last Thursday of April at noon shall
thereafter be the commencement and ter
mination of the official term OF the Presi-
dent and Vice President.
Second. Upon the ratification Of the
proposed amendment. the second Tuesday
of January at noon shall constitute the
and termination of the
official term of the senator's and MEM
bers of the House of Representatives.
The Congress in existence when the men,
bers of the first House OF Representatives
are elected (Which Is always the short
session Immediately following the general
election for representatives in Congress)
after the ratification of this amendment
shall hold no annual session after such
election and such short session of Con-
eress as now provided for shall terminate
on the second Tuesday of the January i'm
med,ately following. The senator's whose
existing term would otherwise expire on
the 4th of March next succeeding the day
on which the term of the first Congress
shall commence after the ratification of
this amendment shall continue In Office
until their successors are appointed or
elected.
Third When the proposed amendment
becomes operative. Congress shall assem-
BILE at least once in each year on the Sec
ond Tuesday in January until Congress
shall by law appoint different date.
Fourth. In the proposed amendment
the time for the election of q President.
when that duty devOlves on the House, Is
extended to the last Thursday In April
Fifth In the last three sentences of
the proposed amendment. Congress Is
given power to provide by law Tor the
danger of the death of the President-elect
ar .of the death of the President-elect and
vice President-elect, before the beginning
of their terms of Office. as well as for the
case of failure to elect such officers"
The Joint resolution reported Is as fol-
lows:
Joint Resolution Reported.
Resolved by the Senate and House of
of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled two
thirds Of each house concurring therein),
That the following article is proposed as
an amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States, which. when ratified by
.ta Lot furoa of three -fOurfnS of the