Evening star., 1933-12-04
The New Congressional Calendar

Monday in December, today, for the
first time in one hundred and t0rty'
three years This amendment, pri-
mArlIy designed TO END INC hmf'OVM
sessions of the national Legislature.
participated in by Representatives and
Senators rejected at the polls by their
constituencies and States, provides that
the Congress as chosen at the elections
in the even-numbered years shall as
semble for its first regular session on
the third day of January, unless the
Congress shall by law appoint a differ
ent date. The Seventy-third Congress
was elected in November, 1882, and but
for the extra session called in the
Spring, closely following the Inaugural
ton of the President, would have held
its opening session January 3, 1884.
The First Congress met on March 4,
1889, and was in session until Septem-
ber 90 of that year, the second session
beginning January 4, 1870, and the
third December 6, 1890, which was the
beginning of the sequence of December
meetings, uninterrupted until the pres
ent time. On numerous occasions the
Congress elected in November has been
called, as was the First, in extra ses-
sion to meet in advance of the Decem-
Der assembly.
The Seventy-third Congress, having
met and organized March 9 last, Will
hold its second session on Wednesday,
January 3, 1884, in accordance with
the twentieth amendment. But for the
fact that it was previously summoned
in session, 1t would on that date have
proceeded to organiza. Hereafter save
in the most extraordinary circum-
stances, there will be no special ses-
sions called between the date of cleo
ton and the third day of January,
when the newly chosen Congress will
meet. The Seventy-third Congress
would, but for the extra session of last
Spring, called to meet the emergency OF
the economic depression, have been
unique in having but one session, in
asmuch as the successor Congress will
be elected in November next, and will
meet for organization two months
later.
Under the twentieth amendment the
date of the Inauguration of the Presi-
dent will occur on the twentieth day Of
January, instead of the fourth of March.
The Seventy-fifth Congress, elected in
November, 1886, will in January, 1887,
canvass the votes cast by the electors
chosen by the States. This procedure
remains as it was prescribed by the
twelfth amendment to the ConStitu-
ton. In the event of no person hav-
Ing received for the office Of Presi-
dent the votes of a majority of the
whole number of electors, the House
OF REPRESENTATIVES, shall Immediately
choose the President by ballot. vot-
ing for this purpose by States, the
representation from each State having
one vote, The Senate shall in such
circumstances elect the Vice President
by majority vote of its total mem
bership- If the House should fail to
elect President in the manner speci-
fled in such circumstances, the person
elected Vice President would, on the
twentieth of January, assume the Office
Of President and act as such until
President should have been chosen and
qualified. The time available for the
presidential election is curtailed by the
twentieth amendment by about six and
a half weeks. but save in such a remote
contingency as that which arose in
1877 there is a negligible chance of a
failure by the Congress to ratify the
choice of the people expressed in No
vember for the two persons to serve as
the chief executive officers of the Gov-
eminent.