Evening star., 1919-03-16
ALL NEW CONGRESSES
TO MEET ON MARCH-4,
CURTIS PLAN
Announces He Will Introduce Bill Similar
to One Passed During Administra-g
tion of Andrew Johnson

SW JOAlAoOh. s4 ~ =.
-.s--, e. i.
gress and the executive. nor give il as
reason for the proposed legislation.
Instead he gave reasons for the pass
age of the bill which are as cogent
today as they were then. In fact. the
reasons for such legislation are even
more imperative in these days when
the business before Congress is vastly
greater than it was in the earlier
days of the republic. Mr.. Sehenck
said: -. 49,
I'VE have now an executive depart
ment represented by the President as
the chief magistrate. with that OH
Ger inaugurated on the very day upon
which his term begins. to take the
place of his immediate predecessor.
Thus there is continuity given to
that which represents the executive
power of this country. In the same
way the judiciary is continuous by
successive appointments of members
VINO compose our supreme and other
courts. But the legislative depart
ment has. up to this period of our
history. presented a very different,
| condition of things, the inconven-
| fence of which now makes us feel.
Tor the first time. perhaps. that re-
form is necessary. That inconyen-
| fence so presses upon ~ now that-I
nave very little doubt that every one
hiuSt nave come 10 the COnClnSiOn
That change is needed
Congress is elected for a term of
twenty-four months, and yet under
tne existing laws providing for the
meeting of Congress a period of nine
| months, from March to December
must expire without any organization
OF the legislative department of the
government. 1t consists for. more
than one-third of it's time of a num-
Der or persons elected to be repre-
sentatives of the Legislative powerJof
me country. but without power to
meet together even for the purpose
OF organization. SO that fhe powers
or government with whichDthey are TO
pc invested cannot be exercised un-
| less they shall be called together at
the pleasure of the executive depart
.nent. Ihere Is an interregnum ex-
tehoing over one-third of the con-
gressional term at each spcceedirr
| two years.
Purpose Of Bill Challenged.
Representative lie Blond. also OF
Ohio. but a democrat. who opposed fine
Dill. declared that the country would
not stand for what he characterized as
an attempt to keep Congress con-
SANITY IN session and that 1t was, not
interested in the row between tire
congress and the President -
The country does feel an interest in
this matter" continued Mr.. LIE Blond,
and 1t Is not willing that this Con-
gress shall make any change iI-the
present law, SO as to keep a perpetual
session of Congress: 1t is-unneces-
pense that will attend it no man can
calculate. The people at he'.proper
time will feel these things, and I
Judge will act upon the matter in such
way as will not be very satisfactory
to those who favor this system of Leg
islatfon. And now all I desire IS that
the gentlemen opposite will simply
come out and make the thing plain SO
that the people may understand 1t, And
instead of legislation in tho. mannsr
they do. say at once that we VIII have
no executive, but that we have merely
a tenant at your will in the Waite
but that the Senate of the United
States. SO long as it shall remain radi-
cal, shall have the appointing powaz
This is not the only bill looking 10
that end. There is already a prope-
sition pending here whereby the ap-
pointing power is proposed to be tak-
en- from the executive and giyen.to the
Chief Justice of the United States.
'T can see nothing but mischief Ttp
result from this legislation. IT, the
gentlemen want to legislate in this
way. would much rather they would
at once bring forward a bill to strike
or the head Of the executive. for then
the country would understand it.
Repealed After, Six Years.
Six years later, when the con-
troversy between the executive ann
the legislative branches was a thing
of the past and legislative business
was comparatively light. the. desire
to avoid summer sessions of Con-
har2m SfrnnDar and
A movement developed for the repeal
of the law, and, notwithstanding the
protests of some, including Repre-
sentative Hoar Of Massachusetts,, q
for sessions beginning March ffs
Those who sought the repeal de-
clared it was folly to call Congress
into being until the administration.
If it was new one, could develop
its policy: that the dog days" in
legislating, and that business" much
preferred Congress to go aWay and
give the country a rest. The vote
for the repeal bill in the House was
close, 100 to 81. with 80 not voting.
In the Senate the bill went through
without q roll call, though
the vote on the bill was takeH a mo-
tion to lay 1t On the table was lost
As to Z. indicating a large majority
in favor of the repeal
SpcdhIHS al luc I1OuSC against tuei
repeal. Mr.. Hoar said. in prophetic
vein --.-.t.=sa
"Who can doubt that there have
been many occasions in the past, as
there will be many occasions in the
future. when the safety of the coun-
try, or of a large number of it's. citi-
zens will require the existence of
House of Representatives, organized
and ready for action, between March 4
and the first Monday of the. following
December? Now, sir, to leaye-,thie
power to the President of calling an
viding by law that there shalt no
session unless an extra session shall,
be called by the President leaves
it in the power of the executive of
representatives of the people shalt
have the power to apply the remedyof
law if required by any grave emer-
gency. The power to declare war is
vested in this House, and upon ats
instant exercise may depend the ma
tional safety and dignity" -~-7A7eS .
Congress Is Hard Worked. .,.as
Turning aside from any controyerss
that may exist today. or that existed
in 1867, between the President and
Congress, there seems absol4telyapo
reason why a Congress elected by the
people should wait for twelve-or sthi9-
teen months before assembling. to take
up the legislative business OF the
country. A change ,of party.ia power,
due to an election, may be nullified for
year by the failure Of the admsnis-
tration to call an extra session Of Con
gress. Except for the fact that Wash
ington is "hot' in the summer time.
no reason has been given. whySthee
Congress should not sit during the
summer months. IN these days, TIE
needs of the couLtry require Congress