Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-06

A plan is said to be favored by men,
bers of the Senate judiciary committee.
with reference to the change Of inaugurals
date that differs radically from the Henry
resolution now pending in the House and.
likely to be called up for a vote at anys
time under special order from the commit 1
tee on rules The Henry resolution, which:
is the result OF a most careful study of the.
whole question, accomplishes two results
1t brings the newly elected Congress into!
session shortly after the election and it.
provides for the presidential inauguration
at clement season. In order to do this
1t constitutes the newly elected Congressa
the canvassing body for the electoral vote, !
whereas at present the expiring Congress-
performs this function. According to-
understanding. members of the Senates
committee favor the retention of the ext
piring Congress as the canvassing body.
and one proposal is to call 1t into session,
Immediately after election, as at present,
solely for the purpose of counting the
electoral votes. Then, according to a.;
plan which has not yet been fully worked
out, the newly elected Congress would
meet some time between the LIST and 18th
OF January and the President would be
inaugurated at the same time. BY this
plan there would be no delay between
election and the converting Of Congress
and no short session" as at present, the
canvassing session Of the expiring Con-
gress not being reckoned as such.
Such project would entirely fail to
meet the requirements. 1t would SUBJ
stitute an even more dangerous date than
March 4 for inauguration. It would al
most certainly reduce the ceremony to
small proportions, probably combining II
exclusively to an indoor procedure, with
perhaps social assembly at night. III
would not appeal to the public at large
and the American people would be viz
tually excluded from participation save
through their chosen representatives at
the capital. II 1t is desired to make Of
the inauguration a bare formality the
change to January would most effective
ly accomplish this end It is however
abundantly evident that the people of
this country desire to attend the inaupu.
ration. They have been coming to Wash.
ington In increasing numbers for many
years for the purpose Of witnessing the
ceremony OF administering the oath to
the President and a parade SYMBOLIC
ing the popular acceptance of the new
administration. Since the movement for
change OF date was seriously started a
Few years ago with the governors Of the
states serving on q national committee
widespread interest has been manifested
in the plan. and there is today an al
most universal demand for the adoption
OF an amendment which will insure an
inauguration at a season when the people
can attend without danger.
1t is to be hoped that there will be no
conflict between the two propositions, but
that when the Henry resolution is
adopted by the House. as it is expected II
will be. the Senate will pass 1t promptly
SO that the amendment may be submitted
to the state legislatures before the close
OF the present session. The Senate has
on more than one occasion gone on record
in favor Of the later Inauguration, and IL
is surprising now to find that there is
any sentiment in that body favorable to a
January date.