Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-08
DISCUSS CHANGE
CONGRESS DATES
0verhauIing of House Calendar
to Get More BuSineSS-Iike
Schedule is Considered.

Copyright. 1920. by The Washington
Star)

49, A19NE-
more careful legislation, and possibly
a change in the date for the quad
rennial assemblage of the people 10
witness the Inauguration of the pres
ldent, is now being considered by
leaders in congress.
Revision Of the national calendar
has been advocated for many years
and has intermittently been studied
by congressional committees princf-
pally in connection with the insistent
| proposal that the inaugural date
should be changed. The unreliable
ty of the weather on March 4 has
! prompted n demand that this great
spectacle should be postponed until a
later date. While the desire Is strong
locally in Washington for such a
change. this would really mean much
more to the people throughout the
country. hundreds of thousands OF
whom flock to Washington to witness
the induction into Office of their
chosen leader.
The national capital is en- fete for
such occasions. But the records show
that March 4 Is stormy as often as
not. A notable illustration was at
the Taft inaugural when Washington
was completely cut off from commu-
nication with the rest of the nation
for several days by q complete block
ade of trains n wire facilities. 1t
has been we'll proved to the country
generally that March 4 is altogether
unreasonable for such outdoor as
semblages as the American people
desire for an inaugural. At times
such gatherings are dangerous, for
some desperately severe storm vista
tions have caused the sacrifice of
lives and la wrecked the great ma
tional ceremony.
on other occasions the weather
has been delightfully."- mild. but the
chances are decidedly against a
clement day on March 4.
The question of whether ~overcoats
should be worn in the great inaugur-
al parade has always been n that
caused the committee much vexation.
But behind the popular interest i'll
the inaugural spectacle is q broader
and more important question or re-
arranging the dates for the opening
Of congress and even of holding cleo
tions so that national legislation may
be handled in the most efficient ana
timely manner
This problem Is one in which House
Leader Mondell has taken a particu-
lar interest and to which he has given
deep study. During his twenty-four
years in MIR. Mondell has
had impressed upon him congressional
necessities and limitations. He lone
ago realized that there should be a
longer time for transacting business
than is permitted by the present cal
endar every alternate year.
Even before he took over the lead
.ership of the House, Mr.. Mondel had
decided to make q fight for this re-
form. Thus far reconstruction legis-
lation, the necessity of cleaning up
tho tag ends of the wal and repeal
ing war-measures, and of passing the
necessary appropriation bills after
strict investigation in the interests OF
economy, have had first place in the
attention of the House. Mr. Mondell,
however, is still determined to father
efficient readjustment of the congress
.sional calendar.
There are two general propositions
to lengthen the short session OF the
retiring congress and place the date
OF inauguration late in April, or 10
sh orten the short session and advance
the date of Inauguration to early in
January, coincident with the begin
ming of the new congress.
AT present the appropriations for
the first fiscal year of the new adj
ministration are voted by the retiring
congress unless, as happened in the
S,xty-sixth Songress, there has been
a deadlock and bills ave failed. nee
essitating an extra session of the new
congress.
nS last 1Auioudg IN <1PlAi To- W
named in a proposed constitutional
amendment as a substitute for March
4, as the inaugural date. This has his
torical support, because it was
on that day George Washington was
first inaugurated. 1t Is also ideal
for a ceremonial in this latitude.
Should 1t be considered in the re-
formation OF the calendar to bring
the new in session simultan-
1o,,cI,- With ,La nlt1atfnn nF tn DrnGi-
dent into office there would be time
before the first OF July for the enact
ment of the appropriation bills for
the newt fiscal year.
Leaders in congress who have been
studying this question see one objec-
ton in the way of a January inaugural
and the converting of the new con-
gress. By the constitution it is now
provided that congress shall act as the
c~anvassing board for the election Of
President and Vice President. II the
inauguration occurs early in January
the old congress must canvass the
electoral votes before that date. There
is but little time for such a procedure
if the election remains as now fixed
in November. A change Of the cleo
ton vote to October would give more
time for this procedure, and this sug-
gestion is being given considerable
LII 10 al
Il am inclined to the opinion that
1t would be useless to attempt to
change the date of the fall and win
ter meetings OF the congress-" Mr..
Mondell explained. american people
have become accustomed to elections
in the fall. With the election day
remaining unchanged, it is logical that
the date of the session OF congress
following the election should remain
approximately as at present, assuming
however that the new congress Is to
take control It an early date after
the election.
1--WE have adopted a fiscal year, be-
ginning July /. / think we are likely
to retain that plan, although there
are some strong arguments in favor
of making the calendar year the fiscal
year. Assuming that We are to re-
tain the present plan of fall elections
and a fiscal year beginning July, tho
question arises as to whether the an
nual appropriation bills are TO be
passed by the expiring or the new
congress-"