Evening star., 1924-02-23
0. X. INAUGURATION
AT EARLIER DATE
Norris Resolution for Con-
stitutional Amendment Re.
ported to Senate.

The Norris joint resolution propos-
ing to amend the Constitution SO that
the President and Vice President
shall take office on the third Monday
in January, after their election and
that the newly elected Congress shall
assemble for it's first session on the
first Monday in January was report
ed favorably to the Senate today by
the Senate judiciary committee.
A similar resolution was passed by
the Senate during the last Congress,
but failed to be considered in the
House. There has been much sentl-
ment in favor of the proposed change,
in the belief that it would result in
making the government more quickly
responsive to the will of the people
as expressed at the polls.
The resolution as reported today
provides that if the House of Rep
resentatives has not chosen Presi-
dent, whenever the right of choice
devolves upon it before the time fixed
for the beginning of his term, then
the Vice President chosen for the
same term shall act as President un-
til the House of Representatives
chooses a President, and the Con-
gress may by law provide that. in
the event the Vice President has not
been chosen before the time fixed for
the beginning of his term, what Of
ficer shall then act as President, and
such officers shall act accordingly
until the House of Representatives
chooses a President, or until the Sem
ate chooses a Vice President.
1t is proposed that this amendment
to the Constitution shall take effect
on the fifteenth day of December aft
er its ratification.
'Under existing conditions, a new
Congress does not actually convene
in regular session until year and
one month after its members have been
elected" Senator Norris said in his
report submitted on behalf of the ju-
dietary committee. when our Con-
stitution was adopted there was some
time between the election and the ac-
tual commencement of work by the
new Congress.
, I'VE had neither railroads nor tele-
graphic communications connecting
the various states and communities
! ditions. however, the result of cleo
tions is known all over the country
within a few hours after the polls
close, and the Capital city is within
few days travel Of the remotest
portion of, the country.
by the legislature, and as a rule the
legislatures of the various states did
not convene until after the beginning
Of the new year, and 1t was difficult
and sometimes impossible for sena-
tors to be elected until February or
"Since the adoption of the seven
teenth amendment to the Constitution
however. senators have been elected
by the people at the same election at
which members Of the House are
elected. There is no reason, therefore,
why the Congress elected in Novem-
Der should not be sworn in and actu-
ally enter upon the duties of office
at least as soon as the beginning of
the new year following their cleo
ton.
1.-THE only direct opportunity that
the citizens of the country have to
express their ideas and their wishes
in regard to national legislation is
the expression of their will through
the election Of their representatives
at the general election in November.
Under existing conditions, however.
more than a year elapses before the
will of the people expressed at the
election caa be put into statutory
law"