Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-02-28
Lame Duck Blocks
Earlier Inaugural
Defeated Candidates Con-
troll House Owing to
Gillett's Illness

control of the House of Represer
Etatives because of the illness OF
tSpeaker Gillett. Representative
Philip Pitt Campbell, defeated
! for reelection after eighteen
Years of service, was empowered
today to preside over the House
The selection of Mr.. Campbell
who is also the chairman Of the
Rules Committee. has caused
deep concern among the great
majority of Republican and Dem
Iocratic Representatives who ia
vor the adoption of the Norris
constitutional amendment, which
is designed to prevent just such
situation as now eXists.
Mr.. Campbell is opposed to the
adoption of the Norris amend
ment which passed the Senate by
odds of more than ten to one
The resolution would change the
dates of the inauguration of a
Pre- dident and the dnnual SEES
sions of Congress.
Under the present system a
congress elected in November
does not begin to function until
December of the following year,
or thirteen months after election.
The Norris resolution provides
that a newly elected Congress
shall meet on the fourth of Janu-
airy.
| The present law provides for
the Inauguration of President
on the fourth of March following
his election. The Norris amend
ment advances the date to the
twenty-fourth of January. These
reforms are generally approved
by the people. They have re-
4sived the endorsement of the
American Federation Of Labor,
many farm and civic organiza-
tons and by most of the leading
newspapers.
The chief merit of the propos-
al to advance the date for the as
sembling of Congress by eleven
months is that it would abolish
the so-called "short sessions" of
Congress and permit the two
Houses to proceed uninterrupted
ily with the consideration of pub
lie measures.
The adoption of the Norris
amendment by the House would
make impossible such proceed
ing as today aroused the resent
ment of "a great many members.
Under it's provisions "lame
duck" member of Congress like
Mr.. Campbell would not be per-
nitted to preside over that body
three months after his rejection
by the voters. The present rules
of the House will permit Mr..
Campbell to exercise the func-
tons of Speaker. His decisions
regarding many important mat
tiers of public and future concern
cannot be challenged. His Wig
orous opposition to the Norris
resolution therefore is recognized
as constituting the chief and
perhaps controlling factor in the
determination of its fate.
The House is now proceeding
under the suspension Of the
rules" policy. Legislative meas
Iures are progressed only with the
consent of the Speaker, whose
refusal to recognize the advocate
of sponsor for any bill or reso-
luton is final and conclusive. APP
peals from the decision of a
Speaker who has withheld recog-
milton are practically impossible.
For some unaccountable reason
the dominant factors in the
House situation aHe opposed to
the Norris resolution. despite the
popularity of that project in Con-
gress and throughout the country
A fairly comprehensive survey
of sentiment among Representa-
tives justifies the assertion that
it would receive the vote of two
thirds of the members, which is
necessary to send it to the State
legislatures and popular referen-
dums for ratification.
Speaker Gillette has announced
his approval of the Norris reform
There is little question in the
minds of the supporters of shat
measure that he would have &C
corded recognition to Chairman
Andrews (Neb.) of the Elections
Committee which favoraEly re
ported the measure last week
with a resolution authorizing thu
adoption of special rule to ex'
pedite it's consideration.
! The rule proposed by Mr.. An
drews was sent automatically tt
!, the Rules Committee, of which
Mr.. Campbell is chairman. 1t i:
;Estili in the Rules Committee anC
there is littel hope of its pre-
sentation to the House. Mr.. An
!: drews said last night he woulC
wait until Wednesday in TIL
hope that Speaker Gillett will b,
able to return. If the speaker i
not. Mr.. Andrews will attempt t
get recognition in order to cal
up the Norris resolution He i