Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-19

December.
of --
BACKS TWO AMENDMENTS
Abolition Of Short Congress Session
Among the Suggestions Made
IL in Resolutions,
Claiming that ~grotesque conditions
surround the election and Inauguration
of tho President Of the United States and
The election and qualification Of mem
bers Of Congress-" Representative c. N.
Macarthur Of Oregon has introduced two
resolutions for constitutional amend
1nents, which provide as follows:
/. Fixes first Tuesday after first Mon
day in November as election day and
provides terms Of service Of senator's
and representatives shall begin on first
Monday in December of same year. in
stead Of March Of following year.
Automatically abolishes short session Of
Congress and legislation by lame
ducks or political parties repudiated at
polls
a2. Provides presidential terms shall
begin on second Monday In December.
or about five weeks following election
and one week following meeting of Con-
gress. This week needed by Congress to
canvass vote for President and Woe
president and to elect in case no ma
dbrity in electoral college. Amendment
1fovides vote shall be canvassed by
Breaker instead Of President of Senate.
sind in case of NO majority in electoral
deIlege that House elect by individual
lhembeTship vote and not BY states
Discusses the Amendments.
I'm discussing the need for and adj
&ntages CT the proposed legislation.
Representative Macarthur says:
The amendments which l am propos-
mig should be considered together. for
t3}ey cover subjects that are closely re-
lated, namely. the commencement Of the
Congressional and presidential terms l
Holieve that all who have given this sub
53ct any amount Of serious study will
tie congressional election and the con-
Mining Of Congress is altogether too
1mg and that the time between the
dtesidential election and inauguration
II likewise too long. In the case OF
e3nator or representative thirteen months
attual beginning OF work at Washing,
In. unless tho President sees Mt to cab
I'll sneciai sasSion In the case OF the
ltps1dee< feur n1npths eiaRse between
Gzk39 arc altogether too long, for they
len permit legislative and executive
Slthority 20 remain In the hands of In
dfvfduals and political parties that have
HEN discredited at the polls. This is
mt only unwise from the standpoint OF
a3tund public policy. but it is poor busi-
H5ss and would not be tolerated by any
NfEe Industrial organization These
exhibitions are relics OF the stage coacn
dtys, when presidents-elect, senator's and
Representatives needed a lot OF time Tor
tleir journeys to Washington.
\ oA5eetions - Prevent Methods
hone Of the serious objections to the
~; the depressing effect that elections
AID political uncertainties have on
tlSe business Of the country. Much OF
t1as would be avoided II newly
elected officials were permitted to be-
gih their work and put their policies
election. Sound business. sane eco
nSmics and good politics all demand
tie prompt retirement of a defeated
p6Iftical party or individual office
holder ana the prompt Inauguration
/ "a reEIeR OF fthe history of our
sCuntry furnishes innumerabfe cases
where serious trouble was narrowly
4yerted by those remaining In tenn
borary control of the government
tfter the election Of their successors
/ need only mention the. validating
bolicy of President Buchanan after
ABRAHAM Lincoln's first election Had
lincoln been able to take his seat In
December following his election the
xvii war might have been averted
III my proposed amendment should
ie written, into the organic law OF the
|country the short session OF Congress
will automatically be abolished and
M newly elected Congress Will meet ON
Is first Monday in December following
:. election. This arrangement would
Se practically seven months for the
Ssideration of, appropriation bills
the ensuing fiscal year. and these
q would not be 5ammed through
they are at present. nor would
q be sidetracked because of ILL
ter, Congress could proceed In an
sriy manner to consider the fiscal
Sfrs Of the country with ample
3 for Investigation and discussion.
over and above ALI else we would
legislation by q Congress fresn
the people rather than one that
have been repudiated at the
Result Of Observation.
has been my observation that
an admi nistration-f going ont
pWer the Recommendations OF the
ing President and cabinet officers
Eot carry any great amount OF
nj. There are, Of course. excep-I
TO this, but as rule Congress
the country wait to hear from the
hing executive and his official
y before proceeding to pass
iation Of an important character.
present situation il by no means
olated case, but 10 typical of con-
MS that prevail in this country
one great party is defeated at
polls and another elevated to
am prompted to introduce these
hdments only because OF my wish
fug about progressive and eco
cal ADM nistration and legisla-
II has been argued that the sec
week In December 10 a poor time
Inauguration because OF the Gus.
~ Indictment weather, but have
rved that December in Washing
il just about as agreeable as
ia, and, furthermore. am much
concerned about efficient adj
Btration Of the government than
about inaugural parades and
monies. Ny amendments provide
Congress shall assemble on the
Monday in December and that
President shall be inaugurated q
later. This proposed arrange
gives Congress ample time to
vass the vote for President and