Evening star., 1926-12-12
BY G, GOULD LINCOLN.
\ RESIDENT COOLIDGE, in his
y annual message to Congress,
tackled the evils of the short"
session Of Congress from a

annual message to Congress,
tackled the evils of the short
i session of Congress from a
new, angle.
He is tHe first President, so, far as
official Washington can remember. to
advocate biennial appropriations. with
e""h Congress to appropriate for two
1>a"s at its opening session.
If / plan were adopted, the Presi.
dent pointed out. 1t would be possible
to devote all Of the second session. the
short" session. to legislative work
other than appropriations. It would
make impossible filibusters in the
short session against supply bills for
the Government, in order to force a
special session Of the succeeding Con-
gress.
But the President had more than
this in his mind when the suggested
biennial appropriations. He saw no
reason why a Congress could not ap-
proprtate for two years, now that the
country had returned to normal con-
ditions: as well as appropriate for one
year twice during the life Of the Con.
gress.
Sees Much Labor Saved. u
BY adopting the biennial appropri-
alton plan. the Congress could save
itself a great amount Of labor, much
of 1t repetition, and gain much time
for the consideration Of matters re-
Quiring legislative attention. It Is
perfectly clear that If the Congress
now meeting did not have to put
through the appropriations bills for
the Government before March 4 rolls
around. 1t would be at liberty to deal
with farm relief legislation, with tax
legislation and q score Of other mat.
vryt1f 1fNH Akt AxsA
which must go over, in all probability,
because Of the time demanded by the
appropriation bills.
The first public discussion Of the
Presidens plan was an attack on 1t
by Representative Martin Madden of
Illinois, Republican and chairman of
the House APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Madden could see no virtue in 1t,
declaring that 1t would not be prac-
ticable to make appropriations for two
years In advance. Back Of his attack,
however. Is the opposition Of members
OF Congress to relinouish what they
consider gives them power, the right
to appropriate annually. They hold
the purse strings and keep control
over the Government thereby. II the
appropriations were made for two
years. the executive department would
would not have to come with it's hat
In its hand each year to ask for
money.
Other Members Of the. Senate and
House are asking time for considera-
tton OF the Presidents suggestion be-
Tore expressing an opinion. Some Of
them think 1t may have virtue. al
though they want to be Shown"
Presidents Own idea.
The President, It Ia declared. in the
originator himself Of the biennial an.
preparation plan. It did not eminate
from the Treasury Department, It Is
said.
In a measure the effort Of the
President to do away with the evils
cred a substitute for the Norris
amendment to the Constitution. which
has passed the Senate and Is now
pending before the House, although 1t
by no means goes as far as the Nor.
ris resolution, which would do away
with the so-called '1ame-duck" ses-
sions Of Congress and advance the
date Of the Inauguration Of newly
elected Presidents and Vice Presi-
dents.
The Norris resolution, sponsored by
the senior Senator from Nebraska.
has three times passed the Senate by
overwhelming votes. At the last ses-
sion it was adopted by q vote Of 72
to 2. It has three times been stran-
gled in the House, not by vote, in
deed, but by skillfully administered
sleeping potions at the hands Of the
Republican leadership Of the House.
The influence OF the late President
Harding was thrown against 1t when
it was first advanced. Since that
time, the same kind Of influences
have been at work to prevent action
on the measure. Speaker Longworth,
Majority Leader Tilson and Chairman
Smell Of the rules committee give no
encouragement when the. matter Of
the Norris resolution Is broached.
They see no reason for haste in the
matter. And unless there Is a con-
.certed drive In favor Of the resolution
and action on 1t. the present Congress
will pass into history without Its hav-
ing been acted upon, although it is be.
lieved that 1t would pass by q large
vote should it ever come to the test
in the House.