Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

side. which necessitates haste and lack
of proper consideration. During the
last few days of any session any group
of members in the Senate who may
wish to organize to prevent legislation
have the opportunity to do SO, and fire.
uuently the temptation is great and
may be prompted by laudable motives
and by a sense of public duty and re-
sponsibility, but it Is likewise capable
of much harm when abused
The short session also places entirely
too much power in q small group OF
members of the House of Representa-
tives. by giving into their hands the
power to determine what, Or whether
any, legislation shall be considered dur
ing the whole of the session. No such
autocratic power should be lodged in
the hands of any half dozen men in
any parliamentary body that calls itself
free. The evils of this whole system
have been and are being manifested in
the present session. The whole Con-
gress has been compelled to work at
high speed and with nervous tension
which are incompatible with careful
and deliberate consideration of impor-
tant problems, all because everybody
has had his eyes on the 4th of March,
when We must quit whether through
or not. At best our work will be in
sons practically every member would
wish to have long vacation of nine
months, it is almost incomprehensible
that the American people have SO long
peri lifted q system which sends Con-
gress home for nine months in the
midst of conditions which might de-
mand important legislative action. but
which cannot be had unless the PreSi-
dent wants to call Congress in extra
IN
that the people may need relief from
legislation. 1t is only another step tt
say that the people might well exist
without a legislative body and that the
autocracy of the dictator is. after ALL tt
be preferred to the will of the people
expressed through their chosen repre-.
SentatiVeS.
FavOrs Amendment.
Therefore 1 favor the amendment t.
the Constitution which I have been dis
cuSsing, because
1t will restore what was manifestly
the original intention of the trainers o.
the Constitution
1t will make Congress more immedi.
| ately responsive to the will of the peo'
pie, which is the object of all self-gov'
eminent
1t will remove the autocratic powe,
unnecessary the further limitation o
| debate in the Senate.
1t Will remove the temptation of re
pudlated members of both branches u
shape their course in a post-morten
| session by bending the pregnant hinge
OF the knee that thrift may follow
! fauning'
1t will afford ample time for real de
! liberation on measures of transcenden
Importance and will bring our parlia
! mentary procedure in line with modern
methods of legislation throughout tn
| world.
1t will go far toward restoring in tn
people that confidence in their legisla
| tive methods and the integrity of thei
Government which is essential to thu
| full enjoyment of liberty.
1t will bring into greater harmon,
the conceptions of Federal, State ant
local government, which, after all, ar
all ordained alike that organized societ,
may enjoy an orderly progress and tn
people may feel pride in the processe
| by which this is ACCOMPLISHED
In short, the change ought to b
made, because it will be in the interes
of promptness. efficiency, responsible,
and propriety.
The people all over the Nation de
sire 1t. The press in every State, will
few exceptions, has urged it. TIL
American Ba- Association, made up o
! conservative lawyers from all parts O
America, have repeatedly Endorsed il
he completely of our modern legis
! lative system requires it. The voic
and the conscience of progressive an,
| enlightened men and women demant
1t. Let us have 1t.