Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-06

Washington, Dec. 5.-Members of
the new progressive bloc in Congress
got into action today, but at the
very outset. ran into White House
opposition.
Led by Senator Norris, Republi-
can, Nebraska, bloc members sitting
on the Senate agricultural commit
tee obtained a favorable report from
that committee for a constitutional
amendment providing for abolition
OF the electrical college and for di-
rect election of president and vice.
president and for abolition of the
long period of time usually elapsing
between Congressional election and
the regular meeting of the new Con-
gress. Such an amendment forms
one Of the planks in the platform
adopted by the bloc at it's organiza-
ton meeting last week.
Opposition on the part of Presi-
dent Harding to any such change
in the constitution was expressed by
White House spokesman soon after
the Senate agriculture committee
resolution was laid before the Sem
ate and assigned to a place on the
calendar of business. Some admin
istration leaders in the Senate like
wise voiced their disapproval OF the
amendment and tonight it appeared
that any efforts by the bloc to press
the proposal might bring on a fight
which would test the power of the
progressive faction.
The proposed amendment would
provide specifically that 1.-The choice
of each state for president and vice
president shall. be determined at a
general election of the qualified cleo
tors of such states" thus permitting
voters to cast their ballots directly
for president and vice-president. The
vote would be canyassed by the Sem
ate and House meeting in joint ses-
sion. each state being given as many
votes for this purpose as it has SEN
ators and representatives. @
If such canvass by states should
disclose of a majority. then the pres
ident would be chosen by majority
vote of the House from the persons
having the highest numbers, not ex-
ceeding three, on the list of those
voted for as president" The vote
for vice-president would be can
vassed in a similar manner, except
that in event Of no choice by ma
jority of the voters, the Senate would
select that official as between the
two persons receiving the largest
number Of votes. ".-.
The committee in reporting the
amendment resolution through its
chairman, Senator Norris, pointed
out that the proposed system might
result in the election of president
and vice president from different
parties, "a matter OF fundamental
justice we ought to be protected by
law in taking should we de-
sire to do it," The amendment would
further provide that the terms of
Senators and Representatives should
begin the first Monday in January,
following the biennial Congressional
election and that Congress should
meet each year on that date.
Another provision Of the amendment
would be to change the date of inau-
suration of the president from March
to the third Monday in January.
White House officials in presenting
President Harding's view on the pro-
posal represented the executive as
feeling that constant changes in the
constitution were unnecessary and in
To- .
was said. regarded the present proceed
ure under the constitution whereby a
new Congress Goes not meet for more
than a year after its election as Ole
of the wisest steps taken by the ma
tons founding fathers. as it allows
passions to cool. =
Tho agriculture committee in it's re-