Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-02-05
Amendment To Lame-Duck Bill

David J. Lewis. representative in Con-
gress from the Sixth Maryland District,
introduced in the House last week a pro-
posed amendment TO the Norris lame
duck" session biz increasing the term of
representatives from two to four years. Ii
would be submitted to the States along
with the Norris amendment In state
ment Mr.. Lewis said:
1T is patent enough that two years is
too short term for members of the House
II the member is to be given reasona Bile
chance to serve his country.
"Of the two years large part Of one
year is consumed in primary and election
campaigns. This p esent Congress was
not permitted to meet until IS months
after the election and until primary cleo
tion troubles again were upon its members
The new member gets virtually no chance
at all under these circumstances.
There was great fear when the consti-
tuition was adopted that the President
would make himself king. or dictator,
and the tw0-year term was designed to
forcfend this danger. The fear happily has
proved eroundless.
"A comparison with the rs other leading
Countries Of the world shows that in IS of
them terms of four years or more obtain
for members of the lower house, and with
23 Of these countries the term is three
years or more. In only two. Colombia and
Mexico. are the terms as low as two years
Canada. France. Germany, Italy, Japan,
Switzerland and England all have terms of
four years or more. while the term in
England is five years.
''On top of the two-year disadvantage in
the United States is the circumstance that
each member Of the House represents about
100000 persons. and is their first human
avenue Of approach to the government Of
the United States with its greatly multi
piled and magnified relations to its citizens.
I'm England. Germany and France the
number represented does not rise above
100000 persons per representative.
ut is too much to expect of the human
being to attend satisfactorily to his legis-
lative duties. the administrative work of
$4,000 people. and a campaign. or per-
haps two campaigns, every two years. II
any thoughtful person doubts this state
ment. invite him to spend a day at my
Office"
II developed at meeting at Brighton
on Wednesday night of last week of the
recently revived Brighton Grange that in
addition to Miss Elizabeth Stabler, Of Ash
ton. and Allan Farquhar. Of Sandy Spring,
member of 0lney Grange, Charles r. Harris
horne. of Brighton. is entitled to one of the
gold sheaves the National Grange plans to
present to all persons in the United States
who have been grange members for at
least so years Mr.. Hartshorne stated
that he had been a granger for So years
and announced that he was II years old
Wednesday. IL was also stated that in
addition to the IL members of the Oney
and Libsrty Grove Oranges. of this county
the following Of the Brighton organization
are in line for the silver sheaves the
National Grange will award TO all persons
who have belonged to oranges at least rs
years, but not so: W. Everett Brown, Miss |
Sara S. Brown. Mrs. Isabel B. Jones, Mr..
and Mrs. James W. Brown. Mr.. and Mrs. |
7. Guy Nichols. The recently elected |
officers Of Briston Grange were installed
under the direction Of Calvin Bready. past
master Of the 0lney Grange. They are
Master. P. Garland Lyon overseer. James
B. Brown; lecturer. Mrs. C. L. Lewis; stew
ard. 7. Guy Nichols assistant steward. W.
Everett Brown; chaplain. Chas X. Harris