El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-11
Wants Congress
To Meet Each
Year In March
Representative Says u. S,
Should Be Ruled Bylaw,
Not By President.

Washington, D. C., June 11.-Instead
Of having two sessions Of congress
bieunially there may be three.
Proposal is 10 e made that by laW
congress shall meet for an additional
session on March ;, 1921. and bien-
nially thereafter.
Representative Clifton H. Nc
Arthur, Of oregon, has prepared q
Dill which he has introduced Ar
Macarthur is especially emphatic in
stating the relief that this viii allow
government by law, not by man."
Mr.. Macarthur said today that he
has pledges from many members OF
congress that they viii actively sup
pc-r his bill
In describing the advantages OF
such legislation. Mr. Macarthur said
Under the present arrangement a
new congress comes into being on
March &. following its election. but
does not actually begin work until
the FIRST Monday In December or lS
months after the expression Of the
people at the polls. / contend that
this intervening time is altogether
too long am that mem bers chosen TO
make the nations laws and 10 attend
70 its public business should begin
their work as soon as possible after
election day. and Furthermore. that
they should meet in regular session
by authority Of law and not by call
Of the president I believe in govern
ment by law, not by man
Time Too short.
Under the present arrangement.
unless the president sees fit to call
special session nine months OF time
is actually wasted, and when the
regular session does convene mem
hers have TO rush the consideration
Of important legislation during the
long session. and much Of It goes
Do
automatically terminates on March
9Th Of the odd year.
1T IS a physical impossibility for
the various committees 10 consider
appropriation bills during a short
session and get them out OF the way
by March 18th, and it is my earnest J
belief that the measure which I have
introduced VIII solve this problem by
permitting the incoming congress 10
consider and pass the appropriation
bills for the fiscal year commencing
July I, following the beginning Of
the life Of the congress. This viii
tend greatly 10 reduce the amount OF
important legislation considered att
the short session in which there are
always more or less lame ducks /
who take little OF no interest in con- ]
gressionsl Proceedings.
Wants Longer Sessions.
HThe public business has grown 20 I
such proportions that congress ought
TO be in session practically all the
time, with the ; Ossible exception OF J
a couple Of months during the hot /
weather period Of the summer. The I
arrangements cont lplated in my
bill VIII permit Just this thing, and /
the work Of the CO gress can begin
Immediately after the congress comes I
into being, am IL viii be well under /
way before the hot weather period
There is nothing in my measure ]
which in any way conflicts with thel
provision that congress !
shall meet at least. once a year and .
that such meetings shall be on the i
first Monday in December.
Congress the most important I
agency Of the government. and its
members have a right to know in ad-
vance when they are going TO be
called into Sc sion inst ad OF cooling
their heels and waiting for the presi-
dent. whosoever he may be. TO make
up his mind when he wants them
4 am hopeful that the bill viii ere
ate sufficient public interest to draw |
the attention OF congress to the Ne
cessity OF this much needed reform"