Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-17
WASTE Of CONGRESSIONAL time

|, thirteen original colonies freed them
selves from British rule and formed the
United States of America, it was found
that the territory of the new nation
was so vast and conditions of travel
so primitive. that n considerable time
was necessary TO travel to the capital
from the more remote regions. For
that reason. the elaborate system tSr
the election of the president and vice
president was built up.
This system. still in operation. pro-
vided that electors for president should
be chosen on the first Tuesday after
tho first Monday in November at in
! tervals of four years. This Is still the
1 election day.
The neat step Is the meeting Of the
electors on the second Monday in Janu-
ary following the election. They con-
! vene in the various state capitals.
These are the people who actually voto
for tho president and vice president
The Original system
Three reports arc made of the results
of these meetings of the electors. From
each state capital. one report is sent to
tho Congress of the United States by
special messenger. A second report is
forwarded to congress by mail. The
third report in each case Is ilcd with
the United States District Judge pre-
the state capitals lie. The original pur-
pose of this was TO insure a record OF
the acton of the electors In each state
being preserved. II anything happened
to the special messenger from any
state. there would be the attcstcd rec
ord of tho electors action which would
reach congress by mail Should both
records be lost, tho record filed with tho
District Judge at the state capitol
would then be conveyed to Washington
as the official record for that state.
The reason for building up this clab-
oratc system was the difficulty of COM
munication and transportation in the
carly days OF the nation. Even then.
the territory OF the country extended
west OF the Appalachian mountains.
Roads were OF the crudest sort. Tho
only means of travel was on horseback.
or in horse drawn vehicles.
This condition existed for a great
many years. Tho steamboat was not
invented by Fulton until 1907. and did
not come into general use as common
carrier for years aftcrward. Even
when II did. 1t was of assistance only
to the people of "A portion OF the new
nation.
Tho locomotive followed in 1890. Att
er its perfection. and until railroads
were built across the mountains. the
difficulties of travel remained. -and no
reason appeared to congress for chang
ing the meeting date.
Now these barriers to a specdicr con-
vcntion of congress after its election
havo disappeared with the perfection
of railroad and steamship systems. AMI
| modern methods OF communicating
news, thc summoning of a special ses-
sion of congress is known all over tho
| country today in a few hours.
An idea of tho state of tho roads,
the only channels of travel in tho carly
! days OF the republic. may bo gathered
| from the correspondence of John
| Quincy Adams. when he was president.
He records that once, travelling along
| Pennsylvania avenue in Washington.
between the capitol and tho white
! house. his carriage overturned, greatly
ruffling his executive dignity. ON an
other occasion 1t is recorded that Pres
ident Adams attempted to reach the
capitol. but found the main thorough
faro OF tho capitol of the nation in
such condition that he was forced to
return to his official residence. With
| Pennsylvania avenue. a city street. "
| this condition. travel between western
| Pennsylvania for instance. and Wash
ington. was often u slow and unce1.
| tain undertaking.