Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-12-14
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SEAT
coNeREssmEN WHEN ELECT
ED FAvoRAsLY REPORTED.
EXISTING SYSTEM ISN'T FAIR
Shange IN Date of Presidential Inauo.
uraf'on, Long Urged, May Be
brought About OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
lie Argument in Its Favor.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

- TUG appropriation measures and of
bill for the further liberalization of
agricultural credits.
In the above sentence there Is EN-
bodied the prediction of the leaders
OF both parties. although 1t is hardly
necessary to say that some of the
leaders simply feel that little is to be
done, not caring to proclaim openly
their feeling. There is. of course. hope
against hope in some quarters that
the Dyer anti-lynching bill will be
passed; that the senate will smile fa-
vorably on ship subsidy, and that some
other things can be done which 1t will
be exceedingly difficult to do. when the
new congress. with its greatly reduced
Republican majority. shall take CON
troll of legislation.
The senate committee TO which was
referred the proposed measure to be
submitted to the people for change
In the Constitution which will put
+ senators and representatives In their
seats as soon as they are elected, in.
stead of prolonging their terms until
the March following the election, has
reported the proposal to the senate
unanimously. 1t is predicted in Wash.
ington that the states of the Union
will be called upon before long to
ratify such an amendment.
Present Condition Anomalous.
Republicans and Democrats alike
are ready to admit that 1t is an anoma-
ious condition which permits con.
gress whose party majority may have
been defeated at the polls to continue
to legislate for some months after the
people have repudiated It's methods OF
legislation. Now, of course. Has does
not apply to the present situation, for
the Republicans still have a majority
in both house and senate. Ii Is ar.
gued, however, by one faction within
the Republican party that things which
II proposes to do at the present short
session will not meet with the sane.
ton of the congress as 1t was elected
in November. Therefore, some Of tho
Republicans intimate that the cOndt
ton today is almost what 1t would bs
IL a Democratic congress had been
elected.
1t was the committee into whose
keeping was committed the proposal
for change in the date of the in.
auguration, that reported favorably on
the proposal for constitutional
amendment which would put congress.
men in their seats as soon as they are
elected. The Inauguration date, March
a. always has been regarded as an
unfortunate one by many men in pub.
lie life, as well as by that consider.
able body of the citizenry which comes
to Washington to see a successful can.
didate for the presidency INDICTED into
Office,
Woodrow Wilson desired that
change of this kind should be made
Ii seems possible that the date of the
great ceremonies of Inauguration may
be changed eventually without inter.
fering at all with the Inauguration
proper. In other words, a President
can be sworn into office and take con
troll of things on March 4. while ths
big parade and the ornate festivities
generally can be postponed until a
later period.
March Weather Often Bad.
Weather conditions more than any
thing else have acted to help the plans
of those who would like the inaugural
festivities postponed until late april
Of every fourth year. Occasionally
March is terror In the city of Wash.
ington. and only occasionally does the
early part of the month present .
genial face with a warm blush In the
cheeks.
Looking back into the history OF
inaugurations one finds that weather
conditions of March of Inauguration
years have been about equally bal |
anced between severe cold and mild |
ness, and storm and blue skies. When
General Grant was inaugurated for his |
second term on March 4, 1872. ths
thermometer was below zero in this
city.
Grover Cleveland was inaugurated
President for one of his terms on
day that was something worse than
frigid. The local hospital lists OF
" dSHlhElOb III thC Nt3c lOttOWAAS AViu
weather inaugurations always are
heightened.
Going away back into history, 1t IL
said that the exposure which William
Henry Harrison suffered at the time
of his Inauguration FASTENED his death,
Who has forgotten March 4, 1909.
when William Howard Taft was In
augurated President? There was .
blizzard that day. Not one line OF
telegraphic news was sent out of the
capital city because every wire was
down. The only way that the country
learned that the Inauguration had
taken place was by means Of wire
less dispatch which the operators sue
ceeded in sending to Baltimore. from
which city Il was relayed to PhiIaoei
phia. and from there sent through tina
Vuntry.
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