The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-06
Should Be Done Away With But u
Would Require Con-
stitutionaI Amend.
mont.
billiards OF MARCH
Sixteen Budget Bills Rolled Into Ono
Would be a Better
Way to Do
[By Burton X. Standish, written for
the United Press

IBy Burton K Standish, written for
the United Press.]
WASHINGTON, April 6.-There is
a growing belief among legislators
that congressional schedule Of bust
ness will have to be changed. Gov
ernmental business has bAcome so
complex that the short session" ISM
long enough any more. Even II there
are no tariff, currency, or ant1-uust
measures to get through, the passage
OF sixteen appropriation, or budget
bills, for the support OF the govern
ment, could hardly be compressed INTO
the December to March session that
comes every other year. Not Tor nVe
wears past has the short session COM
pleted it's work.
But to do away with the short SEES
sion would require constitutional
amendm emit. The short sessions al
ways expire on March 4, and this date
is that of the expiration OF the con
gress. Therefore, unless some new
constitutional provision were MADE
even If congress continued its session
after March (which 1t couldn't 90
legally-its acts would be void be-
cause the terms of its members would
have run out.
Section II Of article |, of the con-
stitution provides that the house OF
representatives shall be composed OF
members chosen every second year.
The fact that the continental con-
gress on September 10, 1888, fixed the
FIRST Wednesday in March next
the date was the fourth-for the De-
ginning of congress, irrevocably SET
March 4 as the date on which the
newly elected congress becams In
force. Theoretically the new congress
begins on March 4. Actually, 1t does
MT begin work until the opening OF
tho new session
The proposition of changing the
constitution to make all sessions or
congress begin during the first week
in January and terminate when bust
ness is finished has been before the
house and senate for number OF
wears. It is associated with the ages
old-effort to change the date OF inaug-
uration. Ths plan upon which all
proponents OF this change are agreed,
is to make the date for the induction
of the president into Office some time
in April or May. The scheme received
its biggest impetus Immediately after
March 4, 1909, when Taft was inaug-
urated. Wasningtonians and those
who visited Washington on that day
never will forget the famous Hare
back" storm that completely isolated
the national capital from the rest OF
the world and caused the death OF
scores upon scores Of parading sol
diers. other marchers in thu inaug-
uration procession and spectators VINO
sat in open stands throughout the ter.
rible weather.
Washington is peculiarly suscept.
ible to billiards. in March. April is
almost balmy month. It is doubt
ful. however, IL congress will mako
any change. 1t would not only en-
tail a constitutional amendment but
some sort Of approval by all the
states for the extension of the term
of the president serving when the
amendment went into effect to cover
the period from March until the new
inaugural date. Just how this could ?
arranged is not clear.
All constitutional changes aside,
REPRESENTATIVE Sherley Of Kentucky
thinks he has a plan for Fastening