The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-25
THE "LAME DUCK" CONGRESS

There are proposals from many parts
OF the country again that the lame duck
season of congress be abolished. This
sentiment, which seems to be increasing,
develops from the feeling that little will
be accomplished by congress between the
first Monday in December, when that
body assemblies, and the fourth of March,
when it adjourns. 1t is claimed by many
that a period of impotence is caused by
the holdover session in which there are
numerous members who were repudiated
at the polls in the last election and that
the mandates of the people in that cleo
ton will thus be unnecessarily delayed.
One of the most serious objections to
the situation is pointed out as the obso-
leteness of our political calendar, and the
obstacles to a prompt execution of the
popular mandate through legislation
which is delayed because of the awkward
situation. The new congress, which rep
resents the popular will, does not meet
until more than year after its election,
unless an extraordinary session is called.
1t is claimed that this is illogical and I'M
desirable in the event that there be need
for prompt enactment of certain legisla-
ton affecting the public welfare, which
is sometimes the case. Under existing
conditions a congress elected in Novem-
Der under pledge to enact certain legisla-
ton, can be handicapped by an old con-
gress which obstinately refuses to per-
form such service, and thus long and
perhaps costly delay is caused.
The Norris constitutional amendment,
providing that the dates for the begin
ming and ending of congresses be changed
from March to January l, was passed
by the senate. The house refused to
concur, however, and the short session
deadlock and normal interval between the
election of a congress and the opening
of it's first regular session remain. While
any radical correction of conditions in
this respect would have to be brought
about by amendment of the Constitution,
it is recalled that the date of a con-
gressional election and that of it's assem-
bly, may be changed by an act of con-
gress. Thus congress has authority to
fix it's assembly in March instead of De-
cember, and new congress could assem-
BILE four months, instead of eleven
months, from the time it is elected,
thereby commencing its work simultane-
ously with the Inauguration of the
president.
1t is claimed by many that the Nor
ris amendment was designed to arrange
the political calender more in keeping
with a practical working schedule for
congress, and that the country's needs
and conditions, which have undergone
material changes since the present ar
rangements were made generations ago,
demand a revision of the present situa-
ton to meet these needs and conditions.
It is believed that the Norris amendment
will be submitted to the legislatures at
no distant day, and that the recognized
need for greater government efficiency
will be an argument in favor of its
adoption.
The lame duck session is obviously OBJ
structive of prompt and efficient service
by congress. 1t carries more or less dead
wood in many members of congress who
were repudiated at the polls, but who
have the power to enact legislation I'M
til Marcia, which may continue in force
for eight months after they are retired
to private life unless the president calls
a special session to undo some of their
work.