Evening star., 1926-03-22

stitute the 31st day of December and
the first Monday lin January. respec'
lively, for the commencement OF the
terms and for the annual session OF
Congress. On q motion to suspend
the rules the proposition was lost, l29
yeas to 129 nays.
Weather Conditions a Factor.
For some time before and after this
action propositions to carry the COM
mencement of the terms and the meet
ing of Congress beyond the 4th day
of March had for their chief object
the holding of inauguration day at
time when the weather was more like
ly to be mild and agreeable for such
ceremony; but since the SiXty-second
Congress, when this proposition was
last considered seriously. II has not
been revived, the view being generally
entertained and apparently accepted
that Congress, by law, could fix the
dates for its meeting, a constitutional
amendment being unnecessary.
Another purpose was to extend the
length of the short session OF Con-
gress. This, however, would not ac-
complish the purpose sought by
amendments proposing to bring for
ward the dates in order to abolish al
together the short session and convene
a new Congress shortly after it's cleo
ton, to do which requires a constt-
tutional amendment.
A proposed amendment to hold in
auguration day on April 80. for the
meeting Of Congress annually on the
second Monday in January and for
the commencement of the terms of
members on December 81 was defeat
ed in the House, 40 yeas to 1913 nays,
in the F'ifty-Second Congress Record,
2-52. p. 499).
A revival of the agitation for an
amendment such as the one under
consideration was cotemporaneous
with the consideration Of the so-called
ship subsidy bill in the last session of
the Sixty-seventh Congress. following
the election of members to the Sixty
eighth Congress.
Concurrent Resolution Quoted.
The germ of the proposition was
contained in a concurrent resolution
offered in the Senate by Senator Cara
way, Democrat, of Arkansas, in which
the so.called Norris amendment was
incubated in the committee on agri-
culture and forestry, Of which Senator
Norris was chairman.
This was Il concurrent resolution
expressing the sense Of the Senate to
defeated at the recent election should
abstain from voting on anything but
routine legislation, and that chairmen
Of committees not in sympathy with
the peoples wishes, as expressed at
the polls. should resign from their
respective chairmanships.
When presented on the floor of the
Senate. Mr.. Caraway asked that the
resolution be referred TO the COM
mittee on agriculture and forestry,
stating: Il presume that by ordinary
parliamentary procedure the concur
rent resolution would go TO the com
mittee of judiciary. but ! wish to
ask that 1t be sent to the committee
on agriculture and forestry" The
resolution was so referred,
Legislative Counsel Quizxetl.
Here it might be well to quote from
recent hearing before the House
the legislative bill the statement OF
one of the legislative counsel as show.
ing the power and authority exercised
by an individual senator:
MIR. Colline-You serve the indi-
vidual members of the Senate, do
won not?
Mr.. Lee-To greater extent than
is done in the House. That Is due
to two reasons. In the first place,
there are fewer Senators than Mem
bers. But the more important reason
is this: The Senate works through
individual members TO greater eA-
tent than the House does. Their
committee action is not anywhere
near as extensive as committee action
in the House. One member takes a
great deal more responsibility"
Individual Responsibility.
1t is quite unlikely that the Car
away resolution was ever considered
by the members of the cormittee en-
agriculture and forestry. And il is
more than likely that Senator Norris
alone took the responsibility for re-
porting his own proposed amendment
to the Constitution in lieu of the
Caraway resolution.
What a traveSty on legislative pro.
cedure-denying to the judiciary com.
mittee. composed wholly of lawyers,
its natural and rightful jurisdiction
over a proposed amendment to the
Constitution and placing it in the
hands OF one man as chairman of q
committee whose jurisdiction was to-
tally irrelevant to the subject. By
such process the judiciary committee
or it's chairman could with equal
logic consider and report on farm
problems.
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