The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28

years of my Congressional service has
fully convinced me that many Of the
evils of which the public justly COM
plain. and the frequent passage of
hasty. ill-considered and half-baked
legislation. are the result of the pres
ent short Presidential and Congressional
tenures.
The present constitutional tenure OF
two years, which in reality is. after all,
under the system we pursue, working
tenure of but comparatively few
months, Is, i'm the light of our increased
population, our great domestic and
world problems, our increased expendi-
lures and enormous budget, our vast
growth OF country and the varied neces-
stiles that enter into our national life
and policies, entirely outworn and anti
quated.
Our country's good demands that these
tenures be heightened. and / congratu-
late THE NEW YORK HERALD on taking
up this matter. which is fraught with
great Importance to our nations welfare.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN II.
SMALL CD, North Carolina believe
the Presidential term should be in
creased to six years and that the Pres
ident should be Ineligible for reelection.
Many reasons might be urged in sup
port. but the primary one Is that he
could serve independently and without
obligations. excepting to the people OF
the country.
/ am inclined to believe that the term
of members of the House of Representa-
tives should be increased to three years,
but the reasons are not so compelling.
Members of this body are presumed to
represent the people and the latter should
have frequent opportunity to declare
themselves upon public issues through
their representatives The trouble now
Is that member selected in November
does not begin his legislative term of
service until December of the following
year about thirteen months, and by the
time he becomes infested in his work he
must give attention to his denomination
In the primary.
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM H.
HILL R), New York; believe that
we do not give our President and our
Representatives time sufficient to make
good" believe that a six-year Presi-
Dental term and a three-year Congress
sional term would promote continuity
OF administration and of legislation. /
believe that our foreign policies would
be stabilized There would be less of
the off agin, on agin. gone agin' bust
ness In dealing with foreign nations.
A longer Congressional term would en-
courage independence in legislative ac-
ton. Proposed measures would be more
thoroughly considered. and l believe a
lessening number of laws enacted.
REPRESENTATIVE T. w. HARRI
SON CD, Virginia. believe it would
be advantageous 10 incease the Presi-
dental term to six years, with ineligi.
bility at the end of the term have
always been very much opposed to the
third term, for the reasons given by
Washington upon his retirement, and
believe, unless some Constitutional
limitation is imposed, some one, sooner
or later. will break through this I'M
written law. l think that the extension
of the term to six years, instead of four
Is desirable because of the great dis
turbances the Presidential elections
bring about in all classes of business
and walks of life.
/ believe that the election of Con-
gressmen for three years over two is
desirable, because the business of the
country has grown so great and the
extension of the activities of Congress
has been so vastly developed since the
adoption of the Constitution that a two
year term does not enable the ordinary
Congressman to become sufficiently
familiar with the work to which he is
called to be Of real use to his constitu-
ents.
REPRESENTATIVE IL. j. STEELE
DO, Pennsylvania favor the first
proposed amendment as stated but /
would modify the second by making the
term of a Representative four years.
and elect one-half of the House of Repre-
sentatives every two years. A four year
term would better fit in with the provi-
sion of many State Constitutions that
general elections shall be held biennial
ly in even numbered years The ad-
vantages of continuing body are gen
orally conceded. 1t Is admirably cal
culated. on the one hand. to infuse into
the legislative body biennially renewed
public confidence and vigor, and, on the
other hand, to retain a large portion OF
experienced members duly initiated into
the principles of national policy and the
form and course of business in the
House
The chief arguments i'm the conven-
ton of 1887 aga LIST the longer term
may be summed up in the oft repeated
saying that, Where frequency of cleo.
ton ceases tyranny begins" Since then
our long experience has taught us that
as applied to our modern conditions
the frequency of elections fixed in the
Constitution Is an unreasonable fire.
quency, unnecessary for the prevention
of tyranny. but leading to the selec-
ton of inferior officers and the sub
version of stability in government
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM b.
MCKINLEY (R), Illinois, would say
that have felt that a six year term
for President with ineligibility ut end
OF term would be proper.
/ think two year term In Congress
keeps n man in closer touch with his
constituents
REPRESENTATIVES, ISAAC SIEGEI
(R.), New York; do not believe that
the American people are In favor of an
exfensinn of the reaidnnfinl term Il