The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-04-21
ONr CTOVey2zuent
How 1t Operates
By William BrWckar
TO CHANGE
INAUGURATION DATE

are almost certain to witness an
epochal change in our government.
After more than $50 years, our nation
Is about to alter basic date in our
system of government namely, the
date upon which the terms of our
Presidents, Vice Presidents and sena-
tors and representatives in congress
begin. In all probability the change
will have been ordered in advance of
1896, but it will not take effect until
early in 1887.
This fundamental revision is to take
place through adoption, or ratifica-
ton. by the several states of the So
called lame Duck Amendment" to the
federal Constitution. 1t is the con-
sensus now that its ratification as
part of the organic law is only a
question of time.
SO, in few years then we will Wit
ness the converting of our cOngre in
January of each year for sessiot Of
no fixed duration or life up to one
year, and each four years, we will see
President indicted into Office in the
same month. Congress now meets in
December, of course, but it's sessions,
started in the odd years, end automat-
ically on March 4 of the succeeding
even year; the sessions beginning in
December of the even years may run
through to the following December. IL
the legislative body so choose. The
new amendment will start the sessions
on January 8, of every year and they
may continue until that date Of the
next year if the work has not been
done in the meantime.
In the case of the Chief Executive,
he will take Office on January 20, Of
the year following his election. The
term of Office beginning next March 4.
therefore, appears certain to be the
one break in steady succession of
four-year terms for President since
the formation of our government, for
1t will be reduced by the difference of
time from January 20 to March 4, in
order that the succeeding Presidential
terms may be for four full years.
The purpose of the amendment is,
in the words of its author, Senator
George w. Norris, Of Nebraska, ito
bring congress closer to the people"
And there is not great deal of dis
agreement about that. 1t will make
congress body more responsive to
the people, because senators and rep
resentatives who are elected In No
vember will take Office in just two
months thereafter. Those who are de-
feated by the electorate will not serve
again, unless perchance a session con-
tinues past the date Of the election.
At any rate, the will of the people as
expressed at the polls in November
can be carried into the halls of con-
gress within two months instead of
being delayed, as is the case at pres
ent, from November of one year to De-
eember of the next year.
Considerable research has failed to
disclose how the term, Lame Duck"
had it's origin. 1t has long been APP
piled to the unfortunate politician who
guessed wrong as to what his constit-
uents wanted, and was defeated. He
has served through another session Of
congress, however, before surrendering
office to a successor.
While the new amendment will make
congress more responsive, and closer
to, the people, there is and probably
always will be some lack Of unanimity
of opinion as to its value. The school
of thought in congress that opposed
the amendment felt there was danger
that congress would be too responsive
to public will; that there were such
things as whims and public demand
based upon misinformation, and that
the present period of delay afforded
time for the electorate to "cool off,"
Those who look at both sides of the
question see that danger. They recog-
nize it is possible for majority of
the citizens of the Republic to be
swayed by demagoguery from
raucous minority. Some act of for
eign nation might possibly engender
such steaming hatred just in advance
of an election as to cause the selection
of q majority Of congress willing to
rush into war. Or there may be some
domestic issue about which the flames
of public sentiment may be famed, with
n subsequent action by congress that
would be regretted in later years.
On the other hand, those who fos-
tered the change and who pressed 1t
through congress have contended that
this new responsiveness will work
both ways. 1t is their view that SEN
ators and representatives will "hear
from home" more quickly than ever
before if sentiment swings back from
the point that 1t reached at the polls.
Plenty of safeguards are said to exist.
and this observer is inclined to the
opinion that they do exist In force.
After watching the performance Of
congresses through more than
decade, I hold the conviction that they
represent rather good cross section
of the population that elects them.
The voters now and then get one who
is better than the average and now
and then put one in Office who does no