Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-11-10

congress which will meet in Wash
ington on December 5th will be
the last lame duck" congress- 1t was
Speaker Thomas B. Reed who coined
the phrase lame ducks to designate
members of congress who have been
defeated for reelection in November
but who still held their offices until
the fourth of the following March, and
meet in December for final session
There will be an unusually large
number of lame ducks in the conclud-
ing session of the seventy second con-
gress, and they will have just as much
power, their votes will count for just
as much, and if they had been re-
elected. In some quarters, indeed, there
is a feeling that the lame duck con-
gresham, who no longer has to keep
an eye on his home district to deter
mine how he should vote. is sometimes
more likely to conduct himself as a
representative of the real fundamental
interests of the entire nation than is
the new member who has to keep his
own possible reelection in mind
Some Good Workers Too
A great many unjust things are said
in private and in the public prints
about congress as whole. One reason
is that great deal more publicity is
given to the sensational and irrespon-
sible remarks Of a few, than to the
genuine, quiet work of the many
If party politics could be eliminated
from the deliberations of congress
which, OF course, it cannot--the pub
lie would not be SO apt to look upon
its members as If they were group
of irresponsible schoolboys, which they
certainly are not
The terms OF the members of the
congress which have Just been elected
begin on March 4th, 1888, but unless
called by the president in special ses-
sion congress will not actually meet
until December, 1888. But instead OF
remaining in office until March a. 1885,
the terms of these newly elected mem
bers will expire on January 10, 1885,
and that of the PRESIDENT whose
term also begins ON March 4, 1888, will
expire on January 20, 1885; that u.s. OF
course, provided three quarters Of the
| state legislatures meeting this winter
ratify the Twentieth amendment to the
federal constitution, which changes the
terms Of office of the president and OF
both houses of congress.
/ Nineteen states have already ratified
/ it. 1t will take the action, therefore, OIL
seventeen more state legislatures TIC
make it effective. There will be legisla-
tive sessions in some forty states this
winter. and since NOBODY has raised
any serious objection to this constitu-
tional change, it is regarded as certain
that it will become part Of the funda-
mental law of the land by early spring
Two Years Hence
The first important fact Of this con-
stitutional change will come about two
years from now, when the seventy
4 fourth congress is elected in November
1884 The members elected at that Tins
4 will not have to wait a year and
month before the beginning of theii
regular session, but only about twt
months. There may still be a session
of the Seventy third congress- the ONT
just elected, in December, 1884, blu
that is hardly likely, since, they wnult
have only about month of time, will
the Christmas holidays Intervening
in which to do anything.
The congressman elected in Novcm
Der, 1884. will meet in regular session
Immediately after the Christmas holi
days, when their terms viii begin OF
January 10, 1885 Then, in two year
after that, in 1886, the presiden
then elected will be inauauarated o.
January 20. 1897, ten days after TIL
congress elected at the same time ha
begun its first session. This will civ
congress time to organize, to establish
its committees and be ready with a
least the beginnings Of legislative pro
gram before the new president take
office.
There is a general feeling in polit
ical circles that, eventually, this nev
system is going TO make a great dea
Of difference in the way in which pub
lie affairs are conducted.
Washington Viewpoint
The citizens of Washington are won
dering what difference it will make i,
the life of the capital city to have tn
presidential inauguration in Januar
instead Of in March. One Of the prin
cipal sources Of revenue for Washing
ton business and hotel men, and house
holders, has for many years been tn
money spent by the crowds that 20 t
Washington for the inauguration cere
monies, especially when there has bee
party turnover and new party gov
eminent is coming in.
The impressive ceremony Of the new
president taking the oath Of office o.
the grand piazza on the eastern iron
Of the capitol building, in the presenc
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