Evening star., 1937-11-26
MOVE TO INCREASE
HOUSE MEMBERS
Terms UNCERTAIN
No Action Expected This
Session on Eight Reso.
Iutions Now Pending.
MEASURES PROPOSE
FOUR YEARS. SERVICE
One Would Split Election Of Rep.
resentatives Between Presiden.
tial and "Of Year"
BY. WILL p. KENNEDY.

Eight resolutions pending in the
House proposing constitutional
amendment to increase the term OF
Representatives from two to four
years are not likely to receive any
consideration at this session.
Chairman Summers of the Judiciary
Committee, to which they have been
referred, has no intention Of holding
any hearings or Of calling for COM
mittee action on them. Most OF the
measures were introduced at the OPEN
ing Of the last session, but Chairman
Taylor OF the Appropriations Com
mittee has Just introduced an iden-
tical resolution and says he will press
for early action on 1t.
The other sponsors are: Representa-
tives Vinson. Democrat. OF Georgia ;
Fletcher. Democrat, Of Ohio; Dean,
Democrat. Of Georgia; Fulmer, Demo-
crat, Of South Carolina; Duncan,
Democrat. Of Missouri; Boren, Demo-
crat. Of Oklahoma. and Ellenbogen
Democrat. Of Pennsylvania.
Aims at Sterilization.
Mr.. Taylor explained that his reso-
luton provides that half the member
ship Of the House should be elected
in a presidential election year and
the other half in the so-called "ofi
year." He hopes that in this way the
House will become more stabilized. "
He argues that such a change would
add to the dignity and Importance
OF the House and that the holdover
portion would serve to balance the
incoming rookie membership"
This, he points out, would add to
public confidence. After 80 years
Of membership in the House and a
years Of legislative service, Repre-
sentative Taylor gives 1t as his mature
judgment that the people could trust
their Representatives for four-year
terms. He contends Q longer tenure
in office by House members would
free their minds from the worries OF
making campaigns every second year
and result In better legislation.
1T would Be great step toward
saner and more careful consideration
Of legislative proposals." he says.
Mr.. Taylor introduced a similar
measure many years ago, but no action
was taken upon it.
Views Differ.
However, Representative Cannon
Democrat, of Missouri, ranking next
to Mr.. Taylor on the Appropriations
Committee and former parliamenta.
rian of the House with the late Speaker
Champ Clark as his patron and coun-
selor. has entirely different views or
the subject.
Probably most Of the members Of
the House would vote for it and then
most Of them would be defeated in
the next election" he comments
When the Constitution was adopted, y
he explains, "the term Of the House
members was made brief so as to keer
them close to the people and 50 rep
resentative Of the people. During -four
years, conditions may change mate
rally. I believe the term of a House
member should be kept at two years
and he be held responsible to the peo-
pie"
Another member Of the Appropri-
ations Committee, Representative Lud-
low, who Is rounding out 10 years Of
House service after more than 80
years Of newspaper experience, most
of the time in the press galleries OF
Congress, strongly supports Mr.. Tay-
lor's contention. He emphasizes that
It Is q constant drain on the energies
and resources of q House member to
have to stand 50 frequently for re-
election and to be obliged to make SC
many campaigns.
Long before I ever came to Con-
gress," he says, II felt that members
of the House should have . four-year
term, which would give them q far
better opportunity to carry out pro-
gram Of legislation beneficial to the
people they represent. AS it is now,
they hardly get started before they
have to divert their attention to barn.
storming in their districts for re-
election. Besides, it keeps the voters
upset-they would be much better
satisfied If they had Congressman
long enough to get acquainted.