Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-04-27

How 1t Operates
BY William Bruckart
TO CHANGE
INAUGURATION DATE

alter more lnan LOU years, ouI hatioh
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
1886, but 1t 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 q
part of the organic law Is only
question of time.
So, In few years then we will wit
ness the converting of our congress III
January Of each year for sessions 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 Its 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. II
| the legislative body so choose. The
/ new amendment will start the sessions
on January 3, of every year and they
/ data nf the
next year II the work has not been
done In the meantime.
In the case of the Chief Executive,
he will take office on January ~, OF
/ the year following his election. The
term Of office beginning next March 9,
therefore, appears certain to be the
one break In a steady succession or
/ four-year terms for President since
/ the formation OF our government. for
It 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, TO
bring congress closer to the people.
And there Is not great deal OF dis
agreement about that. It Will make
congress a body more responsive to
the people, because senators and rep
resentatives who are elected IN mo-
! vember will take office In just two
months thereafter. Those who are de-
= feated by the electorate will not serve
again. unless perchance 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 OK
being delayed, as Is the case at pres
ent, from November Of one year to De-
cember Of the next year.
Considerable research has failed TO
disclose how the term, Lame DUCK
had its origin. 1t has long been ap'
nlled to the unfortunate politician who
guessed wrong as to what his consfit
uenfs wanted, and was defeated. Hf
has served through another session Of
congress, however, before surrenderine
office to successor.
While the new amendment will make
congress more responsive, and closer
to. the people, there Is and probahl.
always will be some lack Of unanimifs
az oninion as to It's value The schoo
of thought In, congress that opposed
the amendment felt there was DANCE
that congress would be too responsive
to public will that there were sucl
things as whms and PUBLIC deman'
based upon mislnformation. and tina
the present period OF delay af1orde'
time for the electorate to "cool on"
Those who look at both sides OF tn
question see that danger. They recoa
nlze 1t Is possible for majority Q
the citizens OF the Republic to D
swayed by demagoguery from
raucous minority. Some act OF fol
eign nation might possibly engende
such steaming hatred just In advanc
Of an election as to cause the seiecuo
Of a majority of congress willing I
rush into war. Or there may be som
domestic issue about which the name
Of nubllc sentiment may be famed, wit
a. subsequent action by congress thf
would be regretted In later years.
On the other hand. those who 70
tered the change and who pressed
through congress have commended I'M
this new responsiveness Will Wor
both ways. 1t Is their view that SCI
: ators and representatives will "het
!, from home" more quickly than ev'
- before If sentiment swings back fro
:, the point that 1t reached at the poll
= Plenty OF safeguards are said to exis
50 and this observer Is inclined to u
"a opinion that they do exist In force.
m After watching the performance
% congresses through more than
Ia decade. | hold the conviction that tn
represent rather good cross sectl'
! Of the population that elects thel
The voters now and then get one WI
az 10 better than the average and nc
10 and then put one In office who does
credit to the district OF state fro
w. which he or she comes. But the ave
81. YaI