Evening star., 1926-03-23
BY WILL T.. KENNEDY.

The so-called Norris amendment
(Which captiously seeks to abolish
lame duck" congress.) now await
ing action in the House. underwent
some 16 changes during the travail
incident to three campaigns to get
II passed by the Senate.
1t was reported by its author. as
chairman of a committee whose Ju-
lisdiction was totally irrelevant. as
a. substitute for the Caraway resolu-
ton. which would, it was claimed.
bring relief from the conditions
pointed out by the resolution This
original Norris OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
hecause there has been deal Of
Nacillating-contained two distinct
propositions.
First. abolition of the electoral col
leSe system and the direct election
of President and Vice President.
Second fixing the beginning of the
terms of the President and Vice
President on the third Monday in
january and the annual meeting Of
Congress on the latter date.
Lame Ducks" Chief Issue.
1t should be kept clearly in mind
that the second proposition, or some
thing like it. was and is the great
ieSidelatum of the proponents of this
class of amendments. All else is
secondary. They have been and are
perfectly willing to yield opinions
on other phases of the general sub
1ect and TO jettison and sacrifice"
almost everything else SO long as the
purpose TO eliminate the short ses-
sion of Congress and the so-called
lame duck Congressman can be
accomplished.
one may be impressed with the lack
OF that studious consideration which
II supposed to be given to SO grave
q question. This is evidenced by the
apparent ease and abandon with
which amendments We're proposed and
accepted and phraseology changed
and rechanged to meet somebody's
hasty suggestion.
No proposed amendment to the Con
Stitution, it may be said. ever under
went so many and such sudden
changes as the one under considera-
lion. at least not in the brief period
If three years. During the travail in
the Senate in that length of time it
was subjected to no less than l6
changes, largely based upon the hy-
pCthess of opinion.
Reasons for Change.
The reasons or arguments assigned
for changing the time for the meeting
OF Congress and for the beginning of
congressional and presidential terms
may be summed up briefly as follows:
First. the short session of Congress
should be abolished.
Second, there would be two long ses-
Sions of Congress beginning in Jan
uary.
Third. defeated members. so-called
lame ducks" would not participate
in legislation after their defeat.
Fourth. newly elected House
would decide the election of Presi-
dent in case of failure of the electoral
college to elect.
Fifth. Congress would meet soon
after being elected and not wait l3
months.
Sixth. members would have "a chance
to make a record before the time for
nominations.
To the suggestion that the Presi-
dent may call an extraordinary ses-
sion as early as March the objection
is urged that it projects the work into
the heated term in Washington, and
that the Winter months are the best
time for good work: also. that the
wishes of the people should not be
dependent upon the President alone.
These are the main reasons assigned
for the proposed changes.
Insist ON Amendment.
No suggestion to meet the situation
without an amendment to the Consti-
tuition is entertained by the pro-
ponents of a change because they do
not want to agree to anything that
leaves out the abolition of the short
session.
The amendment came up for consid-
Grafton February -. 1928. and inn
nediately Senator Norris abandoned
his proposition for the abolition of the
electoral college and for the direct
election of the President and Vice
President.
Then, on the day following. three
additional amendments were accepted