Evening star., 1923-02-17
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

IL would be hard to find arguments
against the adoption Of the pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution
changing the time for the beginning
of the terms of active service of the
President and members of Congress.
AT present the law provides that a
newly elected President shall take
Office on March 4, after election in
November, and members Of Congress,
elected at the same time, do not be-
gin to serve for thirteen months after
election-the December of the follow
ing year. unless there IS called a spe-
cial session.
The proposed amendment, which
passed the Senate last Tuesday by a
vote OF SO to 6, provides that the
terms of President and Vice President
shall begin on the third Monday of
January, and OF congressman on the
first Monday of January following
the November election. Congress
shall meet at least once a year and
begin it's session on the first Monday
of January. unless by law it fixes
some other date. The House has not
yet voted upon the amendment.
4 Il y
The reason such long interval was
arranged by the original Constitu-
tion was because, in those pioneer
days. travel was done with horses
only, and 1t took congressman
months TO reach Washington from
the distant regions. Today there is
no place upon continental America
more than four days travel from the
capital The trend of legislation is
toward bringing the masses into
closer touch with their servants. the
Legislators. Let the people rule"
There are virtues in the proposed
plan of reorganization OF the depart
ments of government. If merely the
nomenclature of some of the depart
ments were to be corrected IT would
be worth while to consider it
For example, with all the brilliant
history of our Navy, why has its use
fulness in war not been recognized?
We are proud of the spirit in battle
manifested in Don't give up the
Ship and 'T've just begun to fight"
The Navy had something to do with
the opening of hermit Japan to the
world; it was ready when Mr.. Gridley
was authorized to fire on the enemy
ships and forts in Manila bay, also
at Santiago. But only the Army has
had the honor of being designated as
the War Department" Why, no.
body knows.
The new plan proposes to combine
the Army and Navy under Secretary
of Defense, with undersecretaries for
the respective branches of defense,
including new branch-air defense
If this change meets congressional
approval, will it not revive the rumor
that Secretary DENLY of the Navy
will be made ambassador to Japan?
1t would seem to be a graceful way
to provide for him without any sug-
that the Secretary of War, Mr. Weeks,
will become the Secretary of Defense.
1t is proposed to create new
cabinet office-a Secretary of Public
Welfare This will include the bureau
of education. public health service,
Veterans Bureau, and a new bureau
of social service.
1t is surprising that in this new
department there is not also included
a bureau of fine arts. Such bureau
in close relation to the bureau of
education, vet not confined to educa-
tional activities. would become an
influence of vast Importance in cul-
tivating and directing the arts, both
fine and industrial. The fact that
Americans have the reputation of
being too practical to care for the
'fads and frills" is exploded nonsense.
Washington is soon to have erected
magnificent permanent exposition
of art, representing an investment OF
s30.000,000 by the National Society of
Arts and Industries. Other develop
ments of art in the city, familiar to
our readers, represent millions of
dollars. and this tendency toward re-
finement and intelligence in the use
of beauty in industry. as well as in
the highest ideals of culture. has come