Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-09
HOUSE BEATS
PLAN To MAKE
TERM 4 YEARS
Lame Duck Constitutional
Amendment Proposal Is
Considered
MANY CHANGES
Several Amendments Must
Be Disposed of Before
Final Passage
MANY CHANGES

WASHINGTON March P--With
the greatest speed under which it's
parliamentary machinery can operate,
the house cast into discard today q.
proposal to increase from two to four
years the tenure of office TO it's
membership
This action came on motion to
revise the pending ''lame duck" con-
stitutional amendment, before a single
member other than the author had
had an opportunity to raise his voice
I'M its behalf The proposal was
smothered by vote of 2O7 to 33.
But even with the legislative engine
running in high gear, this took time
and coupled with clamor by mem
bers for further time to debate the
amendment, the day slipped away
without a final vote. Leaders are
hopeful for this tomorrow, although
number of other motions still must
be disposed Of
The four year term proposal was
offered by Representative Bankhead,
an Alabama democrat, who contend
ed that inasmuch as the amendment
would change the convening date of
congress from the first Monday in
December to January A. that length
ening of the term of the house mem
bers would be considered also.
Presiding over the house at the
! time, Representative Lehlbach, New
Jersey republican, took different
view and rejected the proposal as not
in order Bankhead then was voted
down on an effort to reverse the de-
cision of the chair.
Tomorrow one of the first proposals
! to be acted upon is that presented
by Representative Chindblom, repub-
lican, Illinois, designed to eliminate
! from the amendment all reference to
change in congressional and preSi-
dentiaI inaugural meeting dates.
The debate today engulfed upwards
of two score of the house member
/ ship and drew into its mesh many of
/ those most active in it's functioning.
Tilson, of Connecticut, the republican
leader, opposed the amendment, de-
claring 'its adoption will be an ur-
! fortunate mistake which those respon-
sible for it should never cease to
regret"
He was supported by the veteran
Martin Madden of Illinois, chairman
of the appropriations committee, and
Will Wood of Indiana, another re-
publican stalwart in the~house These
| in turn were joined by Montague and
Moore, both Virginia democrats, and
host of other southern members.
! On the other side another formid-
able array was presented. Members
of the committee that framed the
amendment, known as the White
Norris resolution, warmly urged its
approval, declaring that it would cor
rect deficiencies in governmental op-
Grafton that should not longer exist
AS to what the outcome of thc
amendment will be, predictions were
in conflict Under the constitution
two-thirds vote is necessary fol
approval.
In addition to the Chinblom pro-
posal, upwards of a half dozen amend
ments await action tomorrow. Sew
eral propose sweeping changes in the
nations organic law, one by Rep
Garrett of Tennessee, the democratic
leader, suggesting Q, single seven yeal
term for presidents.
Another would eliminate the pro-
vision that the proposed four months
session should end automatically OF
May 4, while others would remove
specific meeting and adjournmen
dates but specify that the sessions
of congress should convene and ad
journ with given periods.