Norwich bulletin., 1922-12-06
cvltural Committee.

Members of the new progressive bloc in , congress got into action today but at the very outset ran into White House Oppo- sition
 led by Senator Harris. republican, Ne braSka. bloc members sitting on the sem ate agriculture committee obtained a fa- vorable report from that committee for a constitutional amendment providing for abolition of the electoral college and for direct election of president and vice pres ident and for abolition Of the long period Of time usually elaosing between a con- gressional election and the regular meet ing of the new congress. Such an amend ment forms one of the blanks in the platform adopted by the bloc at .ts or ganization meeting last week.
 Opposition on the part Of President Harding 10 any such change in the con- stitution was expressed by White House spokesman soon after the senate a=ricul- tuTe committee resolution was laid before the senate and assigned to q place On the calendar Of business. Some administra- | tion leaders in the senate likewise voiced their disapproval of the amendment and tonight it appeared that any efforts by the bloc to press the proposal nigh: bring on a fight which would test the power of the progressive faction.
 The proposed amendment would pro- vide specifically that the choice Of each l state for president and vice president shall be determined at a general election
 of the qualified electors of such state"
 thus permitting voters to cast their bal
 lots directly for president and vice presi-
 dent. The vote would be canvassed by the senate and house meeting in joint Sos-
 sion,, each state being given as many
 votes for this purpose as it has senators
 and representatives.
 | 1T such canvass by gtates should dis- close lack Of a majority. then the presi-
 dent would be chosen by a majority vote
 ot the house from the persons having the highest members, not exceeding three. on I the. list of those voted far ,:ls 1pEsssdent.
 The vote for vice president would be caHyassed in a similar manner. except
 that in event of no choice by majority of
 the voters, the senate would select that
 official as between the two persons receiv- ing the largest number of votes.
 The conpittee in reporting the amend ment resolution through its chairman n Senator Norris, pointed out that the pro-
 posed system might result in the election
 of president and vice president from
 different parties-"a matter of funda. , mental justice We ought to be protected by law in taking should we [ we desire to do it."
 | AAC hOulu IuEN1eE pIONlQe
 that the terms of senators and represent. l atives should begin the first Monday ir - January following the bienianl congress 3 sional election and that congress should , meet each year on that date. This would . wipe out the session Of the old congres,
 after the biennial elections.
 Another provision Of the amendment
 would be to change the date of inaugura
 tion of the president from March to th. third Monday in January.
 White House officials in presentin; v President Harding's views on the pro posal represented the exeoxive as feef-n-
 that constant changes in the constitutl lor
 were unnecessary and in some cases an . wise. MT. Harding. 1t was said. rcEartiei
 the present procedure under the coastiiu {, hon where5y new congress does no ' meet for more than a year after its eiac tion as one of the wisest steps taken b,
 the nations founding fathers, as 1t allow
 passions to cool.
 The agriculture committee in its re port. however, took an opposite view. dc l. claTins "the present condition of affas 1T F Is. not only unfair to the citizenship a J. large. who have expressed their will a
 to what legislation they desire. but 1t l
 likewise unfair to their servant wh~T E they have elected 10 carry out tais viii. Is With respect to abolition of the eie< n. toral college. the committee declared t E. amendment would make 1t possible for a 1f independent candidate to run for pres
 dent, without establishing an elabora,
 political machine in every state whic F.. means the expenditure of vast sum \, fmoney."
 d When the amendment and report wer ,e laid before. the senate some members !, n formally expressed surprise at such . resolution being reported out by the sg-
 culture committee. but committee men n bers said they regarded the courxe . a- tproper. irasmuch as the resolution was n substitute for one recently offered in lr ,s senate by Senator caraway, denocra ,T Arkansas.
 r. The Csraway resolution would have d
 clared 1t the sense of congress that q.
 feated members should not vote on oth,
 than routine legislation at the sessir s following an election and was referred '. the agriculture committee by-request I fts-au:hor, who said reference to- ar ~ other committee would bring about f death
 At the same time the agriculture con
 mittee was in session a judiciary s1l al committee heard an endorsement fro = William Lowell Putnam of Boston. repr fi, senting the American Bar association fl he the pending Ashurst resolution amendir er the constitution 90 that the terms
 president and congress should begin soS
 after the elections. No action was talk, |. by the subcommittee on the resoiu4 for,