The New York herald., 1922-12-06

the scheme to abolish the electoral
college and move forward the date for
the convening of a new Congress the
White House reelection of the Presi-
dents views were extremely clear and
definite. The President holds the opin-
ion that the Constitution should be
left alone. He was represented as eX-
pressing the opinion that the trainers
of the Constitution had shown sound
Judgment in sanctioning hiatus be-
tween the election of new Congress
and the actual convening OF 1t in reg
ular session.
In support of his position it was
urged that he believed the interreg-
mum permits tie country 10 COO OH,
forget the passions and prejudices
dictated by the unexpected popular
decision OF the moment and permit
newly elected Legislators TO approach
their tasks free from hasty judgment
and epherisral whims." The Presi-
dents opiil on is that new Congress
always can be called into session
within four months ;fter an election.
This provision. in his Judgment, fully
meets the necessities OF The situation.
Before the Presidents opinion re-
garding the proposed change 10 the
Constitution became known at the Capt.
tol Senator Norris procured approval
OF his resolution providing for the
constitutional changes relating to the
Electoral College and the convening
&c a new Congress. 1t is not probable
the project will get very far, because
41 fr haf
comes within the functions of the
judiciary Committee.
Rather convincing evidence that
many members of the Judiciary Com
mittee view the Norris scheme with
favor was provided later. A sub
committee headed by Senator Cum
minis Gowa) decided to report favor
ably to the full committee the Ashurst
amendment. which is practically the
same as that reported by the agricul-
tural committee.
'Lame Duck" voters.
In reporting his resolution to the
Senate Mr.. Norris and his associates
expressed opposition to the resolution
introduced by Senator Caraw&y
(Ark) TO prevent lame ducks voting
on new legislation after their success
sors had been elected" Concerning
the Norris resolution the report says
in part:
Under existing conditions the New
Congress does not actually convene
in regular session until year and one
month after its members have been
elected. When our Constitution was
adopted there was some reason Tor
such a long Intervention. We had
neither railroads nor telegraphic COM
munications connecting the various
States and communities of the coun-
try Under present cond tions results
of the elections are known throughout
the country within a few hours after
the polls are closed and the Capitol
is within a few days travel OF the
remotest portions of the country
The report points out that since the
adoption of the Seventeenth Amend
ment Senators have been elected by
the people at the same time as mem
bers OF Congress IT is therefore
urged there could be no valid reason
why they should not assume their
duties in the January following their
eleCtlOH. he TtpOil dtSo says
"T'he only direct opportunity the
citizens of the country have TO ex-
press their ideas and their wishes in re-
gard to national legislation is through
the election Of Representatives In No
vember. During the campaign which
precedes this election the questions
demanding the attention of the new
Congress are discussed at length be-
More the people and 1t is only fair
tc presume that the members of Con-
gress chosen at that election thor
oughly represent the ideas of the ma
Jority of the people as to what legisla-
ton is desired.
Time for Propagation.