The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-06


Led by Senator Norris, republican, Ne
| braska. bloc members sitting on the SEN
ate agriculture committee obtained a
favorable report from that committee for
a constitutional amendment providing
for abolition of the electoral college and
for direct election of president and vice
president and for abolition Of the long
period of time usually elapsing between
| a congressional election and the regular
meeting of the new congress. Such an
amendment forms one of the planks in
the platform adopted by the bloc at It's
| organization meeting last week.
| Opposition on the part of President
| Harding to any such change in the con-
stitution was expressed by white house
| spokesman soon after the senate asrlcul-
! ture committee resolution was la1d be
! fore the senate and assigned to Spe-
cial Mace on the calendar of business.
Some administration leaders in the SEN
| ate likewise voiced their disapproNal OF
the amendment and tonight it appeared
| that any efforts by the bloc to press
! the proposal might bring on a night
which would test the power of the pro-
greesive faction.
Would Vote Direct.
{ Ihe pIopOSetI dillSlIbillC44I ''O'A+o- -
vide specifically that the choice of each
state for president and vice president
shall be determined at general election
| of the qualified electors of such state
| thus permitting voters to cast ther nai
| lots directly for president and vice pres1-
dent.
! The vote would be canvassed by the
senate and house meeting in joint ses-
sion each state being given as many
votes for this purpose as it has senators
and representatives.
If such a canvass by states Shoul"
disclose lack of a majority, then the
president would be chosen by a ma
iC,itv vote of the house from the per
sons having the highest number. not
| exceeding three, on the list OF those
voted for a president The vote LOT
vice president would he canVassed IN d
similar manner. except that III event VI
M choice bv majority of the voters, the
ro,otn u-ouId select that official as be-
| tT,nen the two persons receiving the
| largest number of votes. ,z
| The committee in reporting the amend
ment resolution through its charlh1 a. J. >
senator Norris, pointed out that t,le
| r,o,osad system might result In the
| p1oCtion Of q nresident and vice president
| Cro,,, different parties-"a matter OF run
| lor,anta1 Justice we ought to be pro-
| toc+nd nv law in taking-Shouid we ue-
sire to do it,
Would Change Terms.
| Tho amendment would further proVloe
| ~, +nr,,s of senators and repre-
I,'e't .t,.oe should begin the first Monday
:: Tar,,arv following the biennial elec
| tion md that congress should meet edc'i
n,. IN that date. This would wipe OUT
/ 10 session of the old congress aiter the
biennial elections. ,,4
Another provision of the amendment
.,,oi,Id he to change the date of lnauGura-
| tion Of the president from March 10
49,. third Monday in January.
| White house officials in presenting
prasidant Hardings views on the pro
-,1 renresented the executive as 1eel-
i.c, that constant changes In the consul
+'9;or we're unnecessary and IN some
oasas unvise Mr.. Harding, IT was sald'
ro,arded the present procedure uhoer
| ~. constitution whereby new congress
1ae not meet for more than year aIter
i+s election as one of the Wisest steps
+al,a, bv the nations founding 1atherS'
as il allows passions TO cool
| The agriculture committee IN its re-
| rort however. took an opposite view de-
! rIarine "the present condition OF affairs
| is NOT only unfair to the citizenship at
| 1ar61> who have expressed their will as to
| What LEGISLATION they desire, but it is
| likewise unfair to their servants whom
| thev have elected to carry out this will.
| with respect to abolition of the cleo
| +oral college, the committee declared its
| amendment would make it possible for
an independent candidate to run for pres
Iident without establishing an elaborate
political machine.