The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-07-10
When Congress Should Convene.

VI JOHA Il oAdl
roth, of Colorado, in the senate of
the United States, as printed in the
Congressional Record, May 20, 1913.
Mr.. Shafroth: Mr.. President, at
the beginning of the present session
of congress / introduced joint reso-
luton proposing constitutional
amendment as to when congress shall
convene and when the terms of
president and vice president shall
commence. l have written an article
on the subject, which has been pub
lshed in Leslie's Illustrated Weekly
of May %, 1913. I ask unanimous
consent that it be published in the
Record.
The Vice President: Is there OBJ
jections? The Chair hears none, and
the order is made.
The article referred to is as fol-
lows:
Section l.. The terms of the
president and vice-president of the
United States shall commence on the
second Monday in January following
the election of presidential and vice
presidential electors, and such cleo
tors shall assemble at the capitals of
their respective states and cast their
votes for president and vice presi-
dent on the first Monday in Deem
Der following their election.
"Section g. The terms of senator's
and representatives shall commence
on the first Monday in January fol-
lowing their election.
"Section 8. There shall be held
two regular sessions of congress,
converting on the first Monday of
January each year."
Under the present system congress
is elected on the first Tuesday in mo-
vember of the even years, and does
not convene in regular session until
the first Monday of December of the
year following. What a travesty up
on representative government is the
meeting of Congress Is months after
it's election. What.a delusion is the
statement that representatives come
fresh from the people! What an OPP
portunity is afforded to forget the
pledges made at the election! 1t is
true an extraordinary session may
be called early, but such sessions are
limited generally to one subject,
which of necessity makes enormous
waste Of time of each house in wait
ing for the other to consider and
pass the measure. 1t is essential to
good government that the expressed
will of the people be crystallized into
law at the earliest practical moment.
The terms of office of senators and
representatives expire on the Bird of
March, and now the second regular
session is held during the three
months Immediately preceding. This
second regular session is held after
the election of the new congress and
after many of it's members have
been repudiated by the people. To
permit such senators and representa-
ton, to still represent their constit-
uents is contrary to every principle
of our government.
Often there is a complete political
change of administration, but under
the present system we have the rep
resentatives of the old political
party for three months after defeat
passing laws directly in conflict with
the last expressed will of the people.
Not even the legislative bodies of
are permitted to so mis-
represent their constituents. An
examination of the Statutes at Large
will disclose that outside of the gen.
eral appropriation and private pen
sion bills three-fourth of the legisla-
ton of congress is enacted during
the second regular session.
The record of each senator and
should be completed
before he comes before his constit-
uents for Endorsement. After he
has been turned down by the people
he Is not in a fit frame of mind to
legislate in their behalf. If he is
open to the temptation of a bride,
then is the time it is offered and re-
;eived. Even those who are not sub
|ect to temptation often lose interest |
IN legislation after failure of cleo
ion. 1t is we'll known that defeated
during the closing ses-
sion, often absent themselves for
weeks and sometimes months.
A session should not be held which
8 brought to close by constitution
Il limitation. Measures in behalf of
he people are often defeated there
~. BY postponing many measures to
he expiring days of the limited ses-
ion such a congestion of bills is eff
ected as often precludes the consid-
ration of measures most intimately
connected with the welfare of the
,eople.
The meeting of congress 10
months after the election produces a
most inequitible result in contested
election cases. The term of a repre-
sentative is nearly half served before
he committee can enter upon the
of his case, and it is
lot brought to a vote in the house
Until Is to "a months after the COM
nencement of the term. The govern
nent, in the meantime, pays the
salary to the one who serves and |
llso to the contestant, should he be
seated. During all that time the
district, at least politi- |
ally, is misrepresented.
The time for converting congress |
IN the first Monday in December is |
very inopportune. An adjournment
If two weeks for the Christmas holt |
lays is always taken and many men,
oers go to their homes, returning
ate. No real work is done until
January.
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