The Washington times., 1930-11-10
Will Of People Not Effective
For More Than a Year
Failure to Amend Constitution May Have Serious
Results in Organization Of Next House.

strongly backed by Hearst newspaper Senator Norris has
five times put through the United States Senate joint reso
luon proposing an amendment TO the Constitution H xng
and members Of Congress and the time for the assembling Of
Congress that the viii Of the people expressed in cleo
The terms Of the President and Vice President would end
the fifteenth Of January at noon and Of Senator'S and
Representatives at the second day Of January in
stead of March 4, as at present
Congress would meet year, at noon on January q
thereby eliminating short sessions such as the one soon to
assemble here.
The Norris resolution has been consistently smohered
the House by Republican bosses in control there all Of whom
had narrow squeaks in Tuesdays elections.
The short session Of Congress assemble in December will
not be representative of the will Of the people In the house.
for example, large numbers Of men defeated at the polls viii
Assist in the passage of legislation Their votes and influence
may even control legislation OF vital concern to the country
The Norris resolution intends wishes of majority
Of the people shall be crystazed into legislation
possible after their wishes have been made known.
The country did express itself Tuesday but will be
almost thirteen months before newly elected Senators and
Representatives have the opportunity to the wishes of
their people in the bodies to which they have been elected
Opponents Of the VOstead law illustration have been
6eCted in large numbers and Senate They
big change in the attitude Of the nation this subject
They must idle than year before their congressional
careers begin.
most phase Of the present defect in the Consttu
on may come in the organization the House. the
81 returns there just bare majority for party the
other When this newly elected House does meet almost
thirteen months away deaths illness may prevent the
party having slight majority from controlling that
body bringing unheard Of chaos and political bitterness
Members Of the House elected last Tuesday do take
their ca Of office until December 1881 They 60 upon the
pay rolls but they cannot until they have taken oaths Of
office Much happen in thirteen months these
brs could meet January the opportunities for chaos would
DO minimized.
Should the next House be Democratic by vote and
death illness should prevent the attendance of three
Of those elected while all Republican members could be
present the will of the people just expressed would 60 for
nothing The thing would be true if the Republicans
have the House by vote.
Sudden vacancies in the Senate be filled by guber
material appointments Vacancies in the House be filled
by elections with considerable time intervening between
vacancies and elections
Nothing happened in American elections in years that
emphasizes the need of constitutional change the ex
isng situation to political control in the next Congress
Adjustment Of short sessions of Congress of the main
purposes of constitutional change Il physical mpos
by for these short sessions to give proper attention to
general legislation and the time dispose of appropria
hon bills The result is congestion, bad legislation and
serious
Still another important aim is that if the election of Pres
dent and Vice President thrown into the House. the
Congress just elected would handle the matter and not the
Congress elected more than a year before
the Democrats do control the House the Norris
resolution to go through the Senate again will almost
certainly become law and be submitted to the States of the
GoNnfry s. -