Evening star., 1932-02-28
LAME DUCK BILL
FINALLY ACCEPTED
Accord in Congress Crowns
Nine-Year Efforts of Sen
ator Norris.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
After nine years of Illustration, the
Norris constitutional amendment abol-
ishing the "1ame duck" session of Con-
gress yesterday received the unani-
nous approval of conferees of the
House and Senate.
Only formal acceptance Of their re-
port in both branches remained TO
! complete congressional action and sub
nit to the States for ratification this
far-reaching measure designed to mod
ernie methods of procedure inherited
| from stagecoach days.
Smiling happily at the near attain
ment of his goal. the veteran Senator
! George w Norris, Republican Inde-
| pendent from Nebraska. said he ex-
pected the report would be approved
/ at both ends of the Capitol early next
week.
Complete Accord Reached.
Complete accord on differences in
the measure as it passed the two
| houses was reached when the Senate
representatives agreed that the amend
I IIlCIib otlOulu 1dlI W ldhC Cl1CCt uIllCoS
ratified within seven years by the re-
quired 36 States.
At the same time the House confer
! ees withdrew from their contention
| that before any State legislature could
ratify it, at least one of its branches
must Rave been elected after the sub
| mission of the amendment
| Foremost among the provisions Of the
measure is elimination of the short
session" of Congress, at which lame
duck" members. defeated at the polls
the previous November, continue to
legislate from the first Monday in De-
cember until March 4.
Instead Congress would assemble
each year on January 3, its new men,
bers taking Office 2 months after
their election instead of waiting 13
months as is now the case. 1t would
continue in session as long as neceS-
sary to finish its work.
/ The long wait between the election
and the convening Of Congress, which
was necessary in the days of horse
| transportation, is seen by proponents of
the amendment as no longer required
in an era Of telegraph, radio, railroad
and airplane.
Urged Ever Since 1923.
Ever since 1923 Senator Norris has
been urging this contention in support
of the measure and six times previously
! he has gotten it through the Senate
only to have it fail in the House. Last
session the House passed substitute
but it differed so greatly that conferees
could reach no agreement.
| The Nebraskan pronounced himself
well satisfied with the measure as
whipped into final shape and signed
by the representatives of both Houses
Yesterday after several days Of confer
ring around a long table in smoke
| filled room
In addition to setting January for
the assembling of Congress and the be-
ginning of the terms Of its members,
! the amendment would have the terms
! of the President and Vice President be-
! gin on January 90, instead of March 4.
| The conferees compromised to agree
upon the dates.
A section designed to provide con-
stitutional method for filling the place
of the President-elect and Vice Presi-
dent-elect in case of their death before
taking office was rewritten to embrace
ideas contained in both the House and
Senate versions. AS agreed upon the
Vice President-ele would serve as
President should the latter die before
| hiS inauourat ion