The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-03-03
MARCH 3 ENDS AT
NOON MARCH a
Last Legislative Day Always
Extended Twelve Hours.
THIS is CONSIDERED LEGAL
Presidents Term Ends Every Four
Years, That Of Congress Every Two
Years, at Midnight March 3, but Both
Garry on Their Functions Until Noon
OF Following Day.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

larry OF iHsiF FunCtlons OntI NOON
OF Following Day.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, March 3.-lSpeciuL
According to the constitution. the term
Of the president ends at midnight on
March 3 every four years. Every two
years the term of a congress ends on
March 3. All the official publications
show that the terms Of members Of
the house expire on March 3 aud that
the terms of one-third Of the senators
expire Oh that date.
But the president always holds ON
and signs bills until noon on March T.
The members OF congress continue 10
Iegislate until that hour. although.
strictly speaking. the session ends
and their terms end at midnight on
March 3.
Legislative Fiction.
1t is IA legislative fiction that makes
March 3 end at noon on March 1. II
continues to be the Legislative day
of March 3 by continuous session. If
one house or the other should adjourn
on March 3 that would end the term.
but recesses ere taken when rest is re
quired, and the session which begins
on March 3 lasts until March 4 at noon.
] do not see why noon of March 4
should have been set as the limit, for III
a Legislative day" can last from mid
night until II noon why not for several
days?
But what congress does after the
term expires Is legal. The journals
of each house show that the bills were
passed on the legislative day OF March
3 and We're approved by the president
on March 8, and courts in constituting
legislation accept what the journals of
the senate and house say occurred on
that date.
Great Day of Laws.
March 8 Is the day Of numerous laws.
More laws and much legislation bear
the date March 3. Nearly all the ap-
preparation bills, which are packed
with legislation ut "a short session, are
not passed and signed until March 3.
Many bills that have been held in con
troyersy while men stroye to get their
views accepted are finally compromised
and passed on the last day OF the short
session.
And an interesting feature OF this
whole business is that 1t happens regu-
larly every two years. There have
been weeks of dawdling. but the end
is "A jam and n rush to get every pos
sible piece of legislation through.
Would Have Averted War.
Ii the same effort had been made to
avert the war with Spain as has been
made to prevent the United States
from becoming involved in the Euro
pean conflict there would have been no
Spanish war. Why. even the same eff
fort that has been made to keep us out
of "A war in Mexico If applied In 1898
would have averted the war with
Spain.
Nineteen years ago the country was
war hungry. A new generation, that
knew nothing of the viccissitudes of
the sixties, had come upon the scene,
and they demanded war. Coupled with
II was the longing to help Cuba, and
that forced the war with Spain ana
the Philippine complications which fol
lowed.
Peace People Persistent.
1t Is the peace people who are per
sistent. The followers of Bryan and
all the other paciists are busy. They
have been passing resolutions, writing
and protesting against war. They have
caused a great deal OF deep thinking in
high official circles. President Wilson
has received a great deal OF advice on
the subject, and the larger part Is
against war. Naturally many people
do not write favoring war, although
there are communications sustaining
the presidents position.
President Wilson is generally regard
ed as a peace president, and many per
sons are appealing to him to stand firm
for peace.
Criticised by Sehail.
Congressman Schall of Minnesota,
the blind member OF the house, extend
| ject of public buildings and grounds,
| and he closed with this assertion
1.-The pork barrel method is not good
| sense, it Is not good business, it Is not
American, and the best minds of the
country are agreed that this archaic
method should be abandoned"
When many members publish in the
Congressional Record such statements
t is not surprising that the newspa
pers and periodicals of the country
should also be critical of the methods
low employed to pass public building
ills.
Uncle Jce's Whiskers.
Former Speaker Cannon is having "A
portrait painted just as he now APP
pears. The artist works on the pic
ture in CannOn's Office. One day just
before beginning a sitting the venerable
statesman glanced into the mirror
and then, running his hand through his
white beard, remarked
If you will wait a few minutes l