The Washington times., 1924-11-06

HL0OClIC6 dEG WCAA ONt VI ASeANA "
her little ones. America each
year has a frightful toll of chill
dren burned to death through
carelessness in the home"
an allusion to March 4th; because
by that time March had got en-
hedded into our customs; but In
the original body of the Constitu-
ton there is no mention Of, no
allusion to, no pouring Of holy Oil
whatsoever upon March or any
other set fixed day for the begin.
ming of a presidential term or fol
the beginning Of congressional
term.
Nor is there in the Constitution,
either in the body Of 1t or in any
amendment to it, any set fixed i'm
placable rule to the effect that
Congress must meet on the first
Monday of December. The Con-
stitution does indeed mention the
first Monday in December as a day
of meeting for Congress; but it eX-
plicltly says that Congress may
appoint" any other day Of meet
ing for itself.
/. Nor does the Constitution say
about the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in Novem-
Der.
The Constitution does not fix any
day whatsoever for the choosing Of
Congressman or for the choosing
of presidential electors by the
people.
All these sacred days-March 4,
the first Monday in December, the
first Tuesday after the first Mon
day in November-are sacred not
by any act of the Constitutional
Convention of 1887, but by acts
and accidents since that time.
The first Tuesday after the first
Monday in November is pure Con-
gressional fiat. The Constitution
says that Congress may fix the
time for choosing the United States
Senators and for choosing members
of the lower house of Congress and
for choosing presidential electors.
Congress fixed the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in Novem.
Der. That's all of that.
Having fixed it, Congress can
unfix it.
The ''PecLham Plan"
Hence arises the so-ca.led Peck
ham Plan" for simplifying large
part OF the present situation with
out having to resort to any amend
ing of the Constitution.
Mr.. Peckham, a citizen Of Chi.
cago, notes that at present four
months elapse between the choosing
of Presidential electors and OF
Congressman and the seating Of the
President named by those electors
or by Congress.
This period, If the President is to
be named by Congress, may lie Gf
great uncertainty, of great business
hesitation, Of great business loss.
For that reason, and for numerous
other reasons, this period is too
long.
Mr. Peckham therefore proposes
that Congress simply enact a stat
ute changing our national election
day from the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November to-
let us say-the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in January.
An accompanying statute could
casting and counting of the ballots
Of the Presidential electors,
Period Shortened
In any case. the whole period Of
possible uncertainty as to who was
going to be President would be
shortened from four months to
two
The Peckham plan would go far
toward solving one phase of the
problem. 1t will be earnestly
pressed upon Congress.
If it is not adopted, there are
Senators and Representatives who
at least will insist that If we are
going to retain the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in Noyem-
Der as our national election day,
we should persuade Congress i'm
mediately to enact as follows:
Congress shall meet, not in the
first part of December. but earlier
in the latter part of November.
The Presidential electors shall
cast their ballots, not in January,
but earlier-just as soon as Con-
gress meets.
Congress shall count the ballots
of the presidential electors and, if
necessary. proceed to the choosing
of President and Vice President
not in February but much earlier
some time. let US say, in middle
cember.
This set of reforms also would
tend to shorten the period Of I'M
certainty.
1t comes down to this.
The uncertainty period, for this
occasion and for all other subsequent
occasions. should be shortened; and
the happy circumstance is that the
shortening can in fact readily and
easily be done without an constitu-
tional amendment by one mere
statute by Congress.
So why not? And why not at
once?
This way of approaching the plob-
lem, however. leaves one great
area of it still untouched.
1t leaves US still with an old
stale Congress on our hands which
cannot expire till March 4 and
which meanwhile legislates and,
when necessary, does the naming
Of Presidents.
How can that he altered?
Copyright, 1924, by Current News
Features, Incl
AMUNDSEN CONSIDERS