Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-18
BORAH To REVIVE
MOVE To PUSH Up
CONGRESS SESSIONS
Idaho Senator Would lnaug-
urate Presidents in jan
uary After Election
Copyright, 1921, by the Consolidated Press
Associaton-Special Leased Wire
to The Atlanta Journal.l
BY ROBERT 7. SMALL


WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-In Sen
ator Borahs advocacy of speclal
session of congress to be held soon
alter March 4, next, lies the progress
siye idea of a constitutional cnanSe
in the present Anticipated system OF
congressional sessions. Unable to do
awav with tho lame duck" session
which begins Monday, December L,
Senator Borah would have the new
congress meet as soon as possible in
order that it may carry into early
effect whatever mandate the people
gave 1t at the last election. With
OFT a special session, the congress
men and senators elected the fourth
of this month will be unable to func-
ton until one year from the coming
December.
There is a revival of interest
everywhere in the plan to have the
con gress elected in November each
two years take office the first of the
following January. The plan also
calls for the presidential Inaugural
ton every four years on the first
Of January following the election.
There is held to be no valid reason
at the present time for wait until
March 4. That date was all right
in the olden days when election re-
turns were gathered slowly and
when the presidential electors had to
travel to Washington by stage coach
or horseback.
The advantages of the proposed
new constitutional system are held
to be manifold; there are few if any
defenders of the present arrange
ment. The change in the date of
the presidential inauguration, how
ever is secondary to the proposed
new congressional plan. The inau.
gural date aut omatically would move
forward if the ongresSional meet
ings were changed.
Under the present system of elect
ing a new congress in November and
then having full meeting of the old
congress in the following Deem
Ter, defeated "hold overs or lame
ducks are permitted to legislate after
the people have repudiated them at
the polls. BY the same token a
PRESIDENT, defeated for reelection in
November, is permitted on the first
Monday il: December to give to con-
sress his IDEAS as to what is best
for the nation for the year after he
has been thrown out of office.
Furthermore, under the present
system a congressman elected for
two sessions of congress, is permit
ted to serve only in one before he
must take his caUse once more be-
fore the voters. Under the proposed
system he would serve in two con-
crosses and would have made his
ability or his inability perfectly
plain.
One goat value Of the new system
is that it would make extra sessions
of congress unnecessary except in
some extreme emergency. AS it is
extra sessions during the past six
teen years have been numerous.
They were called by Presidents Taft,
Wilson and Harding.
Under the present system the So
called short session of congress, like
the one which convenes December /
and must adjourn by March 4, is
virtually useless so far as general
legislation is concerned. 1t has about
all it can do to pass the supply bills.
The constitutional limitation upon
the session permits of filibuSterS and
the talking to death of many meas
ures--some at least of which might
be for the public good.
Under the new system, with ses-
sions beginning each January l.,
there would virtually be no limit
upon congress. Some business men
might consider this a bad thing.
They believe generally that lone re-
cesseS of congress are better than
long sessions. Secretary Mellon is
opposed at this time to President
Coolidge calling an extra session
next March. He thinks tax matters
should be allowed to rest for the time
being and as taxes are foremost in
Mr.. Coolidge's mind he may be guild
ed by his secretary of the treasury
rather than by the commanding in
fluence of Borah on capital HILL