The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-07


with the mass Of the people, AS the
branch Of the Legislative body ~hich Is
stabilized by the senate. l think the IA
theirs Of the constitution were very nap
py in the arrangement theS haue "o0"'
these matters. ,,s,
senator julius Kahn (Rep) California
I believe the presidential term OF -FOUR
years as provided in the constitution Is
ample However, there should Dc I'm
itation, in my opinion 70 tne e.
more than two terms ! am not IN
fayo rof the extension Of the term OF the
representatives beyond two years. Ih.Se
officials are supposed to come from tns
body Of citizenship OF the country aItS
ouKht to answer to their constituents
during the two years for. which they are
elected In regard to their actlon o'A
pending legislation. ., NAV,
Senator Oscar w. Underwood. NDenL'
IAlabama@I think that to AK the PTesi-
kent'. tsrna ut six years and to make him
Ineligible for reelection ~oulo 70 q
large extent divorce the President rom
partisan politics, and the six year term
would give an administration a greater
sood or the county. I favoed this propo-
sition some eight yeas ago, ~nen II nn'
before the Congress-. and have no reas-
on 10 change my viewpoint Inc 49,
tIon Of electing Congressman tor three
wears would de dependent upon the eN-
tension Of the Presidents term 10 SIX
wears. To elect two Congresses In one
administration, in my judgment. wouiu
be more satisfactory than 70 elsce tttI &c
and in the event that the first change IL
made the second should follow.
senator D. u. Fletcher. (Dem.l Siorlua
lam in favor of 4 Presidential term OF
six years with ineligibility at the end OF
the term, and q four year term Tor mem mem,
bers of the House Of Representatives.
The President now scarcely has uine
within the four year term to get betore
Congress and have thoroughly consloer-
ed the various legislation anu osneI
public matters which are eInbraceo IN
the platform on which he Is elected ana
which he is pledged to accomplish.
Represent ative scarcely taxes MS SesAI
now before another primary OF senesat
election is on in his district. He is not
able TO give his full and undivided az
tention to the duties OF his Office as ne
would be- If his term were eNtenaeo oFeF
q greater period. 49,.
Senator James d. Phelan l,ern') tali-
formal believe the Presidential term
Of six wears limited would be better IMAM
the present plan. The six years coulu be
given to a real constructive ana 9iStntet
ested work. unaffected by the DEMANDS
for patronage and the oillng of party or
personal machinery. Six years gives
time in which TO establish a policy ana
accomplish results, certainty 70 sreStl-
err DECREE than four years, whlch may pe
frittered away in vain attempts 10 EiaAe
II
years the President should be retireo
with an ample pension.
think the term OF Representatives
might be extended to three years III
order to give the members an oppV or IA
ity to accomplish something and to re-
lisye them OF the burdens OF re-election-
1t would make the office more desirable,
and, therefore. members mlHh more
closely consult their constituents IN
order to hold their place.
REPRESENTATIVE :. u. Fess tRep.(.
Ohio--l am not in favor OF either 81
these proposals. No one OF our fresl-
dents has been crippled for want OIL
time. The failure to Consummate need
ed reforms is not due to want or tlme'
but rather to irresolution on the one
hand and lack Of cooperation or the
executive and the legislative ON the
other. , ,,
of the allegation that y President en-
ploys his energy during his trst term
10 insure his second term: II MS en-
ergy is devoted to insure nigh grace
- service and SUCCESSFUL ADMINS
tration, even though the dominant mo-
tive ia to insure reelection. no fault can
be found with it In republican form
OF government, where the peoples IN
terest must be delegated to their rep
resentatives as trustees Of their rights.
fpeouent elections are desirable. Bust
ness needs not be substantially as
turbed unless the issue upon which the
election Is fought looks to a change OF
business principles and policies. the
Intelligent enthusiasm accompanying a
campaign is not an unmiNed evil. 1t ls
our greatest educational agency In pub
lie matters.
Representative A. w. Fefferis (Rep;),
EebraSka--I favor the retention or the
present four year term for President,
with eligibility to second term. In
four wears It Is possible for the people
to form a correct estimate Of the ability
Of the chief executive, and II ne pc
worthy the electorate will and should
retain him in power. On the other
hand, II the executive fail to measure
UP TO true standards in the judgment
OF the people, four years is not too
short term and six years would seem
an eternity.
The term Of representatives should
be four years. This would enable the
electorate to choose a President and
members of the House at one erection.
Of government should, II possible, coop
crate. Cooperation between executives
and legislators Of rival political faiths
as a rule does not function.
Representative L. Dickinson (Rep.).
Iowa. am opposed TO the extension
OF the term Of the President TO six
years and to his ineligibility for a Sec
ond term, and I am opposed to the eX-
to three years. I think 1t should either
be retained at two years or be made to
cover the term Of the President
Ny reasons are that democratic
form Of government. formulated as our
government. is, must respond quickly
to the demands Of the people when I
certain form Of relief Is necessary, and
the only way they can get this RELIEF Ill
many instances Is through an election:
and II Is my view that many congress-
men are retired when they do not de-
serve retirement. but this Is a good deal
better than to have congressman con-
tinued In office deserving retirement, so
far as the interests Of the people are
concerned.
Senator Thomas p. Gore CD, Okla
homa-SiX years is too long II the ad-
ministration is unsatisfactory. Four
years Is quite long enough If unsatisfac-
tory. And. on the other hand salts
factory and acceptable President can be
should be Ineligible beyond eight years
service.
The two-year term for Representa-
tives Is more or less diSagreeablc to
members Of Congress. themselves and
causes or acccntuatHs more or less
cowardiCc. however. devised for the con-
venIcncc OF Representatives.. but in
order 10 afford the people frequent and
recurring opportunity to register their
sovereign Will.
Senator Thomas Sterling (RD. South
Dakota--Iu my opinion the Presidential
term Sh"ulI nor De lnCredSeu 10 SIN
years. with incliglhillty at the end Of the
term. for the reason that six years is
too lUnH n term for a man who may
prove 10 D" untitled for tho place by
temperament or want of understanding
Of the needs and Ideals Of the people Of
tn" United States or whose policies may
b. 4 menace to our peace or our prog
rcSs. \ second term. making eight
years all told. is not too long for the
Gamble and understanding chief cXecu-
tive.
As 10 the second question. my answer
IL in tho Affirmative The average Con-
hlS IN. E II I.lL.Inr., IL, y