Evening star., 1926-03-21

'N6fL MOTIFS amenOment ana tne
White amendment. proposing
changes in the Constitution
i of the United States. osten
sibly to abolish the so-called
lame duck" session, with the spe-
cious argument that this would OBJ
viate the service of men after they
had been repudiated by the voters. are
not likely to be acted upon at the
present session of Congress.
This is because the proposed change
Is too important an alteration In the
fundamental law and well establish
ed practice to be made without the
most careful study and consideration.
Here again the House is demonstrat-
ing it's readiness to assume respon-
sibility for deliberation and extreme
care in important legislation where
the Senate has acted hastily.
Want Complete Study.
Speaker Longworth and House
Leader Tilson, while approaching this
legislation with open minds and un-
prejudiced are yet firm in their con-
viction that no action should be taken
to disturb the present system OF Gov
ernment. especially through a change
in constitutional provision. without
microscopic and complete study and
analysis of all that Is involved. Such
study is being made by and Tor
the leaders of the responsible ma ajority
in the House.
This eXaminatiO has revealed that
the proposition in its present form has
undergone so many changes since It's
first presentat ton three years ago. and
been amended in so many and i'm
portant respects. upon the mere suS
gestion and opinion of individuals, as
to arouse very grave doubts as 10
whether the proposition in its present
form is the last word on the subject.
The question is raised whether or not
in the light of the experience of the
last three years in the attempt to
frame a constitutional amendment
there might still he other suggestions
that might perfect It,
The Norris amendment-hxing the
commencement of the term OF Presl-
dent and Vice President and members
of Congress. and fixing the time OF the
assembling of Congress-passed the
Senate February 6. and was reported
to the House February "a, 1926.
The White amendment, which is
| proposed as a substitute for the NOR
| ris amendment, was reported favor
| ably on February II, from the COM
|
! Vice President and Representatives in
! Congress, and is pending on the House
calendar.
What Amendment Does.
The Norris amendment fixes the
third Monday in January. at noon. Tor
: the commencement and ending OF the
terms of the President and Vice Presl
| dent; the White amendment fixes the
/ Gath day of January.
| The Norris amendment fixes the first
| Monday in January for the commence
ment and ending of the terms OF Sen
ators and Representatives: the White
amendment fixes the 4th day OF Jan
uary.
The Norris amendment fixes the first
| Monday in January as the annual
meeting day Of Congress; the White
/ amendment fixes the 4th day of Jan
| uary.
! The Norris amendment fixes the
! 18th day of October. after its rati-
/ fication, as the effective date; the
! White amendment fixes the 18th
day of November of the year following
ratification as the effective date.
| In effect. both proposed amendments
would radically change the Constitu'
ton, not only as to these dates but
also as to the presidential succession
The White Amendment.
The White amendment embraces at
! least 10 distinct propositions, as fol
! lows:
Ends and commences the terms OF
the President and Vice President at
noon on the oath day Of January, in
stead of on March 4 at noon.
| Ends and commences the terms of
Senators and Representatives on the
4th day of January, instead of on
| March 4 at noon.
| Changes the annual meeting day Of
| Congress from the first Monday In
December to the 4th day of January.
| Congress may by law appoint a diff
ferent day. (The authority still re-
mains in the President to call an
extraordinary SESSION.
| When the election of a President is
! thrown" into the House, and the
House fails to elect a President be-
tween January 4 and January "a GO
days., then the Vice President (chosen
| by the Senate) becomes acting Presi-
dent, until the House chooses a Presi.
| dent.
| In case Of failure of the House to
elect a President. or the Senate to
elect a Vice President, between jan
uary 4 and January "a GO days. then
shall act as President until the House
chooses a President or the Senate
| chooses a Vice President.
! If the President-elect dies before
| January "a. the Vice President-elect
becomes President.
If both President and. Vice Presi-
dent elect die before January "a, Con-
gress may provide for such case.
Proposed changes as to terms of
President and OF Senators and Rep
resentatives, and of the meeting day
Of Congress effective November 80 in
the year following ratification of the
amendment.
| Presidential Succession.
This proposal to amend the Con.
stitution. from it's original purpose,
] which was TO do away with a So
called lame duck Congress. has
| become enlarged so as to embrace
propositions concerning the presiden-
tial succession. One of these is to
permit the House, in case the elec-
ton is thrown into that body, to con.
tinue to vote for a President beyond
the beginning of the presidential
term, the Vice President. If one
should be elected by the Senate, to
be merely the acting President until
the House should elect one.
| This is such a radical proposal and
fraught with so many possibilities as
to warrent the apprehension. which
is entertained by those who have
studied the question. closely, that in
case of deadlock In the House the
question of the presidency might be a
bone of contention in the House dur
ing the entire presidential term. while
in the White House would be a Presi-
dent in name only. who would exer-
else no power or influence. being only
temporary President, one who could
Of n nic