The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1920-05-05
WASHINGTON
NEWS LETTER
BY The Washington Star
Copyright 1920.
= 4: q. - g; i = .: :: $: * Is
OvERHAULING THE CALENDAR
OF Congress To Gct 4 Sensible, BusI.
uess-Like Schedule OF Dates To
Foster More Careful Leg
islatiDn.

of national dates that viii foster more
careful legislation, and possibly a
change in the date for the Quadren-
mal asscmblago of the people to wit
ness the inauguration of the president,
is now being considered by leaders in
Congress.
Revision Of the national calendar
has been advocated for many years
and has intermittcntly been studied
by Congressional committees, princi-
pally in connection with the insistcnt
proposal that the inaugural date
should be changed The unroliabiIity
Of the weather on March has
prompted a demand that this great
spectacle should be postponed until Il
later date. While the desire is strong
locally in Washington for such n
change, this would really mean much
more to the people throughout coun-
try, hundreds of thousands of whom
flock to Washington to witness the in
duction into office of their chosen lea
der
The National Capital is en- fete for
such occasions But the records show
March 4 ls stormy as often as not
"A notable illustration was at the TAFT
inaugural when Washington was com
pIeteIE cut OIL from communication
with the rest OF the nation for several
days by complete blockade OF trans
and wire facilities. 1t has been well
proved to the country generally That
March A Is altogether unreasonable
Tor such outdoor asSemDlages rs the
American people desire for an inaug-
ural. AT tunes such gatherings are
dangerous, for some desperately sew
ere storm ylsltatlons have caused the
sacrifice OF lives and nave wrecked the
great national ceremony
On other occasions the weather has
been delightfully."- mild, but the chan
ces are decidedly against clement
day on March A.
The question OF whether oVercoats
should be worn m the great inaugural
parade has always been one that caus-
ed the committee much VeXation'
But behind the popular interest IN
the inaugural spectacle Is a broader
and more important question OF rear
ranging the dates for the opening OF
Congress and even OF holding cleo
tioNs so that natural legislation may
be handled in the most Efficient and
timely manner.
This whole problem is one IN whlch
House Leaoer mohueil mas taNel "
particular interest ana 10 "nlch .'e ia.
given deep STUDY DurlhE MS ~
years III congress Mr Monue' mas
had impressed upon MN Co'sfesaioi''
al heceSsltieS ana i''ii'a''o!S' ii' IF
pefmltCed by the present calei'u"r e''
cry alIerhaVe year
Even pelore ne 'ooh over '"I | ~"
defShip Oh tle ilouse, MI mo'u'i ""0
DECIDED 10 make ligh' lot inns ie-
form mus iar recohsVFuc'ioh 'eE''-
iatioh, the necessity Oh c'eani''s W
the Tag ehds Oh 'ne war ana repeating
"ar-meaSures anu Oh PASSING '"e 'ie'
e''"' "pp''i' 49, .,,,t.O,e ''',, ,,' o..,,
''''"',s ''''i' s.. y'o I .,.a -, tho ~
o"'g' -" ~. tta,aa NJ Mondou
'''''''l Va ' 't,,, ,".,,-.i.a, 49, rathn,
Nv" w - -. ,',', - 'f A., C,,,,.,,,
',''''.''' -, 1' ~
'''''"' 0"'' '''' g..
lhere are TWO gelelai prop'"i.'on'
to Iengtheh the snort session ol 'h'
retiring Congress ana pace cne o"''
OF inauguration late III Aptl' Vi y
shorten the snort session anu aus"ilc'
the date OF inauguration 10 carry "
January coihcIdeht WIN the Des"'
ning oil the ne" Congress
At present the appropriations 10
the 1lrSt liScal year u ',' ''" az
mlnlscratloh are VO1eu Dy V"e rc'ii ~
Congress uhieSs' as happe"eu Il, "
Goth Congress there mas Deeh ueao
lock and bills nave 1alled' heceSSl.a'
ing an extra session OIL the nc" W"
gress.
The last Thursday in April has bee
named in a proposed Constitutions