New-York tribune., 1922-12-10
AProgressive Step

n UVb'N
s.n,..- Norris is entitled to much
..sa for getting consideration at
~ ~,sion Of a constitutional
-..Srcut reforming the Federal
's.,S,r. The Progressive bloc con-
,.,,u., shares in the praise for
gIrirr up interest in this long-de-
~ .saernizatiOn Of legislative
.s.s-e. II is a good example of
h, Sriee nat insurgency can rem
s,,to f, party snd a Congress intent
|,s,ey On marking time.
Tb,re have been a thousand and
II, demonstrations Of the fact that
Il. vr.ssnt short session is too short.
h i 4 trsvesty Of q session. Con-
|,,., reeds 70 do a certain amount
4 work each year. Under normal
it is now idle for nine
'hop,bs after the terms Of its mem
i,n begin. Then it holds a long Ses-
son II tx, seven or eight months.
THE second regular session, crowded
Into less than three months deduct
ins she Christmas holiday recess),
scratches only the surface Of legisla-
lion. In the Senate, as evidenced by
N flibuEer on the anti-iynching
ID, nothing can be done against the
lns Of q minority party or even Of
/ mailer ireeoneilsble group
The first benefit Of a change in the
Eusn. obsolete schedule must lie in.
& !, liberation Of legislation from the
iiieklss Of the short session. There
mud bs two sessions Of about
Svh lngth. This idea found
favor hng ago with the more pro-
UmtV LADDERS in Washington.
sE habit prejudice and inertia
|, xrs TO strong for it. Congress
"a, hxn n shaky about economizing
b ON time as il has been sbout
Twilight saving. John Sherman
nugh 70 amend the calendar. So
d George T. Hoar. The later fol-
wed he line Of least resistance for
. tine BY getting the Senate to
''n't an amendment shifting In
Suraton Day from March 4 to
~ 4, thus adding two months
sf1y-one days. 10 the short session.
ihe Hoar resolution was passed
Nay 10, 1928, But it was killed
the House Of Representatives by
re cheap neer that it was a meas
sEe 70 prevent Senator's from catch
,ns y, cold At an outdoor Inauguration.
lhe idea behind Tie SDeer was that
q more Senators who caught colds
s,s better.
Ihs Hoar amendment had the
WIZ ol accomplishing its main pur-
~Vln a minimum of disturbance.
aae'ed the term Of one Presi-
ls 's Vics-Presidene and one
:. Two months. and stopped
ne Norris plan aims at a
result, not taken into consid-
"a 1893, but now properly
|" the front. Il wants to
.ne duck" sessions and give
,s...,.'s II saoss to the voters will. If
.,,.s ! Y You'd bring the Congress
q. : a'vember into action ON
Dn.r sseday Of January next.
i.ss s''e be two long sessions,
Ias,.s' s'ning in January and run.
H., r'r .. as desirable through the
H. 80. shorter interval between
- and the assembling Of
~ a logical and progressive
proposal would, however,
s'od deal Of the existing ma
" Presidential elections.
'esututioh eontcmplates the
0' the electoral vote. the
Aon Of the successful cand;-
J. President and vice-prssi,
ny the election Of President
{l.'..' Ss.rresident :, in case Of no
s..C College choice by the House
/ -, IN Office at the time the
~ 'lsi elections are held. II
~, houses meet on the frs.
Z January and the Presi-
~. nsnsurated on the third
s,;. = January, the process Of
Ikf ,ne electoral vote, count
|, !, .''.!i 'ssIilfying the result and pos
krs....' s..''ns President and Vice
10 default Of a majority