Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-18
Analysis Of the Amendment.
he committees report continues:

The committees report continues:
after carefully examining the phrase
ology Of the amendment, an exact analy-
SIS of its purpose and effect may be re-
stated as follows:
Il. 1t extends the term of President
and Vice President to the last Thursday
of April, 1917, and such date shall here
after be the beginning and termination of
their term and the date Of subsequent
inaugurations.
. After that date Congress shall meet
annually on the second Tuesday in Janu-
shall be the beginn ng and termination
of the official term of senators and rep
| resentatives. This proposed plan leaves
cleo ns as ney are now. TO
be held in November, except in the state
Of Oregon in June and Maine and YER
mont in September. It seems inadvisable
and mpracticable to interfere with those
dates as now established by the various
state laws and constitutions.
%. The short session of Congress.
which would occur Immediately after the
November election upon the adoption of
this amendment. is to be eliminated and
it's term shall expire on the second Tues
day in January Immediately following.
two annual sessions Of Congress. each
running from January as long as each
session Of Congress chooses to sit. NO
elections Of representatives will come be-
tween Congresses, and no short session
can possibly arise to impede business. as
is now inherent in the Constitution.
Il. 1t changes the 4th day Of March,
as now appears in article II Of
the Constitution. to the last Thursday in
April. as the limit of time in which the
House must elect President when such
duty devplves upon that body.
IS And 1t gives Congress constitu-
tional power to legislate as to the success
sion in cases where there is vacancy
on account of the death or inability OF
the President-elect and Vice President
elect between the casting of the electoral
vote and the inauguration. There Is a
complete hiatus here and should these
officials die or become totally disabled
between those dates there is now no
authority for filling the vacancies during
the ensuing four years from such dis
aSter.
&c The Congress as elected in November
under this plan will count the electoral
dental election. And the newly-elected
Compress would also elect the President.
should that duty devove on the House
under the constitutional provisions. Both
these features are desirable In the read
justment of our system
Change Demanded by Humanity.
1T is certain that constitutional
amendment is necessary to bring about
all these changes. except the annual con-
yening of Congress. which can be fixed
by statute or joint resolution Under
the amendment Congress may continue
as many days from converting on the
second Tuesday in January OF each year
as are desirable. And of vital impor-
lance ia the fact that the Congress elect
ed i'm November will begin work In the
January following. when the new Speaker
| will be elected and the House organ
lied The House would never be with
ont regularly elected Speaker and
officers. If this amendment Is ratified.
There will be no congressional cam
| pafgns between sessions OF congress TO
| distract members.
For humanity's sake alone. If for no
other reason under our present method
Of inaugurating the chief executive. Con-
Rress should authorize the American peo-
| pie, by the submission of this amend
| ment, to render a verdict touching the
| establishment Of q pleasant and suitable
day for the great ceremony. This amend
| ment will secure good weather for thu
| great public function of the inauguration
| of the President and Vice President. This
is not of Sd much Importance as the length
| eIflng Of the short session, but 1t Is l0l'
| to say that 1t is Of no importance. TIL
gathering of the nation at the capita
of the United States and their presence
an the peaceful assumption by the Presi
dent Of his new duties has become
school of patriotism in which men. WON
en- and children Of all parties ratify. con
firm and acclaim the verdict of the PEG
pie, IT brings the man home to tn
masses as their friend. 1t recognizes tn
greatness Of the day which gives ney
President to the greatest people on earth