Evening star., 1926-03-24

under the Government. The lame
duck" cry, therefore, as a reason FOR
tinkering with the Constitution, when
analysed, is found to be as false as 1t
is dfsingenuous and misleading.
Uniform Election Day i'm 1876.
Election day throughout the United
States for the election Of Representa-
tiveS (and now also for Senators) was
not made uniform until 1876, and
eve nthereafter certain States such
as Oregon, Maine and Vermont held
their elections earlier than the first
Tuesday after the first Monday In
November-Oregon as early as June.
When the Constitution makers fixed
the first Monday in December as the
day upon which Congress should
assemble at least once in each year,
they did not know that elections gen
orally would be held in November.
So 1t does not follow by any means
that Congress would have met soon
after the election of members. Each
State fixes it's own day, and when a
uniform day was established the law
was afterward modified so as not to
apply to any State that mad not
changed its day Of election or whose
Constitution required amending in
order to effect the change. Maine
still holds it's congressional election
in September.
Thus it could not have been the pur-
pose in fixing the first Monday in De-
cember for the annual meeting of Con-
gress that the founding fathers had In
mind, primarily. the rapid translation
into action Of the peoples WILL as
expressed at the preceding election.
It happens now and then that the
result of an election Is negative rather
than positive; that 1t registers disap-
proval on the one hand with the party
in power. but does not at the same
time carry with II an affirmative ex.
preston Of desire which could be
translated into concrete legislation.
The disapproval Of an administration $
foreign policy may be registered,
which might only be followed by
policy Of inaction; 1t would certainly
not call for legislative action.
Therefore, 1t does not necessarily
follow that public policies are quickly
to be changed. 1t at all, by an cleo
ton, especially one when the only
change, as we have noted, occurs In
personnel and not in party or political
policy.
In any event it has been found not
to be disadvantageous to the country.
If 1t has not been positively ad-
vantageous, to have an intervening
or transition period between election
day. after the heat and passion Of a
campaign, before the meeting OF q
new Congress. in which calmly to
reflect and prepare: and II there seems
to be need for more expeditions action
than Is naturally afforded. recourse
may be had to an early session OF the
new Congress, either by statutory
Amendment Substitute Offered.
Senator King Of Utah, who opposed
the Norris amendment in the Sixty.
eighth Congress. introduced bill for
the holding of the first annual session
Of each Congress on April s. following
an election. the second session to be
held on January 2 next following, and
the third annual session of each alter
nate Congress on January next fol
lowing a presidential election. which
he said he offered for the purpose of
avoiding, If possible. a constitutional
amendment.
In support of his proposition SEN
ator King said: There are many rea-
sons, it seems to me, why the meet
ing or Congress Immediately after an
election, after we have just gone
through the heat Of the campaign. is
not so important I do not quite
know whether the advantage TO be
gained by compulsory earlier meet.
ings is more important that the dis
advantage, but If It is an advantage,
we can cure it, I think, by statute
We can amend the present law and
provide that Congress may meet at
an earlier date. 1t seems to me THAT
we are tinkering too much with the
Constitution. feel that any amend.
ment to the Constitution ought to be
scrutinized with great care and not
be adopted unless the wisdom Of 1t
is so appealing and compelling that
there are no arguments of any merit
against IT.
Up to and including May 20. 1920.
1S acts were passed providing for the
meeting OF Congress on days in the
wear other than on the first Monday
in December