Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-04
The Federal Calendar Change.

Yesterdays action by the House COM
mittee on rules in giving preferred
legislative status" 10 the joint resolution
proposing An amendment to the Con-
stitution effectine change in the call
endar of congressional terms and meet
ings assures that at some time during
the present Congress, perhaps at the
present session. this measure. already
passed by the Senate. will be brought
Before the House of Representatives for
vote. This is the So-called lame duck"
amendment. designed to put an end to
the practice of bringing into session
after the elections the Congress which
is closing its term 1t involves com.
plete change In the schedule. including
a shift Of the date Of the Inauguration
Of the President and Vice President.
II eliminates the short session." which
begins in December and ends automati-
cally on the fourth Of March. 1t starts
In action shortly after the November
elections the Congress just chosen by
the voters II makes the newly elected
Congress the Judge Of the election OF
President and Vice President, instead
Of the retiring Congress.
This resolution. proposing consti-
tutional amendment, has now passed
the Senate four times. and on each oc-
casion heretofore has been ignored by
the House. The action Of the rules
committee Yesterday brings it closer to
concurrent action than ever before.
Yet it is not assured that it will be
adopted. For a two-thirds vote is re-
CURED to pass an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
resolution, and there is considerable
opposition to the plan on the part OF
members of the House A study Of the
matter to determine whether the reso-
luton as 1t stands covers all necessary
readiustments incident to the proposed
change may be ordered before a vote is
finally taken. In the judgment OF some
who have examined the question 1t does
not comprise all the essentials OF such
a drastic change in the Federal sched-
ule. Others believe that 1t affords the
requisite foundation for the alteration
and enables Congress to make any
further detailed changes that may be
found to be necessary.
This "lame-duck" amendment has
grown out Of movement. started many
years ago, TO secure a more clement
season for the Inauguration Of the Pres
ident. which. scheduled for March 4.
has on numerous occasions been marked
by dangerously severe weather. wholly
unsuitable to an outdoor ceremony.
The original plan was TO shift the In
auguration date to the fourth Thurs
day In April TO make 1t conform ap-
proxinlately to the date of George
Washington's first induction into office
and 10 assure a mild season. On one
occasion. following the Inauguration OF
President Taft in 1909, which was
marked by storm OF violence and
which exposed many thousands 10 the
the amendment failed of adoption by
only few votes in the House OF Rep
resentatlyes. After that began the
movement for reform Of the calendar
in quite another direction. advancing
the inauguration TO January and
coupling with that change the shift of
congressional! terms and meetings.
There are %eighty arguments in favor
Of change Of calendar. The present
system was adopted when the countrys
means Of communication and tranxpor-
tation acre primitive. Months were on
aome occasions required for the ascer-
tainment OF the results Of elections.
ana members OF Congress could not
speedily reach the Capital. Now It is
possible 10 determine the personnel OF
the Congress within q few days after
the closing Of the ballot boxes and, save
Tor The distant territorial possessions.
II Is possible for members and delegates
elect 70 report for service At the most
within a week from the receipt Of their
credentials
This change will undoubtedly be
eventually ordered by constitutional
amendment. IL would seem 70 he nearer
a. hand now than ever before. and NAV
Dc on the point Of being effected AZ the
present session
-