Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-12-06

Opposition on the part OF Presi-i
dent Harding to any such change
in the legislation was expressed
by a White House spokesman soon
after the senate agricultural COM
mittee resolution was laid by the
senate and assigned to place on
the calendar of business. Some
administration leaders in the SEN
ate likewise voiced their disap-
proval of the amendment and to-
night it appeared that any efforts
or the bloc to press the proposal
might bring on action which would
test the power Of the progressive
faction.
Gist of Amendment
The proposed amendment would
provide specifically that "the
choice of each state for president
and vice president shall be deter
mined in q general election of the
qualified electors of such states"
thus permitting voters to cast their
ballots directly for president and
vice president. The vote would be
canvassed by the senate and house
meeting in joint session, each state
being given as many votes for this
purpose as it has senators and rep.
resentatives,
If such canvass by states
should disclose lack Of a majority,
then the president would be chosen
by a majority vote OF the house,
from the persons having the
highest numbers, not exceeding
three, on the list of those voted for
as president" The vote for vice
president would be canyassed in O
similar manner except that in
event of no choice by a majority
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 It's
chairman, Senator Norris, pointed
out that the proposed system might
result in the election of a president
and vice president from different
parties-"a matter of Fundamental
justice We ought to be protected by
law in taking-should we desire to
do It,"
The amendment would further
provide that terms of senators and
representative should begin the
first Monday in January following
the biennial congressional election
and that congress should meet
each year on that date. This would
wipe out the session of the old con-
gress after the biennial elections.
Date of Inauguration
Another provision of the amend
ment be to change the date of in
auguration of the president from
March 4 to the third Monday in
January.
White House officials, In pre-
senting President Harding's views
on the proposal, reported the exc
cutive as feeling that constant
changes in the constitution were
unnecessary and in SOME cases un-
wise. Mr.. Harding, it was said, re-
garded the procedure under the
legislation whereby q new congress
does not meet for more than a
year after its election as one of the
wisest steps taken by the nations
founding fathers, as it allows pas
sions to cool.
The agricultural committee, IN
its report. however, took an oppo-
site view declaring the present
condition of affairs is not only un.
fair to the citizenship at large
who have expressed their will as to
what legislation they desire but II
is likewise unfair to their servants
whom they have elected to carry
out this will"
At the same time the agricul-
tural committee was in session a
judiciary subcommittee held an
endorsement from William Lowell
Putnam of Boston, representing
the American Bar association, for
the pending Ashurst resolution
amending the legislation so that
the terms Of president and con-
gress should begin soon after the
elections, No action was taken by
the subcommittee on the resolu.