The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-06-15
The Lame Ducks" Should Be
Eliminated from Congress

~ II February the Senate passed and sent to the House
the Norris resolution proposing TO the States an n
Penresentayes the first Monday in January two mon1ns
after their election in November -.
The terms Of President and Vice President would he
wise il case ratification of the amendment Dy the
required number Of States, begin in January .,....u
IN practically the same form Il has always remained IN
acted upon in the House Heretofore the excuse mas Dsen
that not reached upon the calendar owing e con
The House IS getting ready adjourn Y has had plenty
az time rs nut the Norris resolution through the Senate
was . fsyoraby disposed that the resolution obtained much
more than required wohrds vote 90 Iar $ Low
there strong opposition 70 i q sns Tsss
Is s time for the Rules Committee 70 put tnls
legislation e should not go over 1ne hs
session viii be short and there VIII asan = - 'us -
action s.. -.
ton and its acceptance By the States would &c the ena
ton Of Congressional lame ducks from influencing egsa
The sessions 81 Congress would then begin shortly after the
November elections The Senators and Representatives chosen
then would be fresh from contact with the people Ihey
would Be responsive to the peoples wishes and legislation
enacted would be what the people ask for IN the November
Unde existing conditions new Congress does not actually
convene iii regular session until year and month after
ito members have elected The trainers Of Const
tuition probably arranged il this because there were
neither railroads nor teegraphic communications
IA our general elections ID November the issues before the
people freely discussed Members Of Congress chosen IN
81 the people of the country These wishes should crysa
liked into egaticn soon g possible after they have been
. 81
II il the future candidate for President should receive
majority Of all the electoral votes the election Of Presi
dent would be thrown into the House. and the membership
which would the President would be of the old Congress
and not the elected BY the people Large numbers
q these members of the House might have been repudatea
By the people the very election which failed give any
Presidential candidate majority of the electoral votes
suoh power should not exist 4 filled with serious
possibilities As things now repudiated Representatives
By the take part ii the enactment Of legislation
Under che Morris resolution the lame duck would
TO Be power right after the elections which put him out Of
his seat ii the House couldn't vote for President
thing else
sessions of Congress those which begin the first Mon
day il December and end the 4h Of March There would BIZ
almost unanimously regarded il Congress undesirable even
dangerous There time give proper consideration
anything They result III mistakes Of serious nature The
proyerb okers into legislation that should be free
Of them
IN these short sessions few members Of Congress lame
ducks at that arbitrarily prevent the passage Of laws By
dlatory tactics
Why the House hesitates at acting to do away with most
unsatisfactory conditions nobody knows