Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-30
Saturday, November 80, 1918.
The Congressional Hiatus.

The nIomaly OF e.ecting senators
and representatives 10 months before
ih.y take their seats has been en-
phaaiZcd again by the result Of the
recent elections. Mess the Presi-
cent chooses to call an extra SC ssion
g the Goth Congress next summer the
lr,a chosen this month by the people
H. Iepicsen: tkom at Washington will
act have an opportunity 10 30 SO I'M
Ill the first Monday IN December,
;ri3 vic FORE II the popular re-
ILdiatIon Of the Democratic control
"a Legislation and expenditures may
not be- l,r until moro than 4 year has
passed.
Perhaps the most disastrous ocnse-
Guences OF permitting such an abb
surd!y long interval Of time 10 eiapse
,twecn the election and qualification
at Members of Congress occurred in
1860. Had the Congress elected in
November Of that year been allowed
to take Office one month later the
C.vl war might have been averted.
But Lincoln and the new Congress
mcnt for four months after the cleo
ton. During that time the Southern
states completed their plans for seces-
sion. They could have been fore
stalled and the conflict avoided if the
delay in the change of the national
administration could have been pre-
vented
The need of a change in our system
has been recognized for years, and
various bills and resolutions have been
introduced to effect a remedy. Each
time. however. complications have
arisen that have prevented the enact
nent Of legislation. II the date of
the end of one Congress and the be-
ginning OF another is to be changed it
will involve a corresponding correc-
ton Of the length Of the terms of two
Presidents. two Vice Presidents,
about 100 senators and $40 congress
men. Such change would require a
very carefully framed amendment to
the Constitution. which would then
Lave to be ratified by three -fourths of
the states. The evident difficulties in
the way have discouraged ill former
efforts 10 correct the evil.
I'ut although il may not be prac-
ticable to attempt the elimination of
the entire interval Of 10 months that
now exists between election and
qualification 1t Is quite within the
power OF Congress to pass n bill fix
Ing the date for the regular meeting
OF the first session of a Congress on
the second Monday in March instead
Of the first Monday in December.
Such an arrangement would not in
tcrfere with the terms of any elected
officials; it would shorten by nine
months the time that now elapses be-
fore n senator or representative can
assume his seat; it would remove
from the individual who happened to
lie occupying the White House the
power to dictate whether the teople
should or should not be properly
represented at Washington: and it
would send to the National Capital
81
lille those issues were still a.:,e and
capable of affecting the welfare OF the
country.
The Constitution OF the United
states says: The Congress shall as
scmDle ut least once in every year.
and such meeting shall be on the first
Monday in December. unless they
shall by law appoint a different day."
Hence it is entirely within the juris-
Giction OF Congress as TO when thew
snail assemble. The people have de-
named the overthrow of the present
control of the Senate and House by
Southern Democrats. That demand
should he complied with by the Re-
ptblcans now in Congress by the in
PRODUCTION OF a resolution, under the
privilege granted by the Constitution,
putting the date of the meeting of
the next Congress as early as posi-
hle. II such a measure were passed 1t
would remove from the Executive one
r'ore Of the bulwarks of autocracy
u chino which Mr.. Wilson Is en-
trenched. 1t would be a decide step
In the return to government by the
people. n goal toward which the Re-
rublicans will strive while the control
OF legislation remains In their hands.
Need Woman Vote More Than Ever.