The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-03
THE nLEcTIoN or SENATORS. I

,Congress, As its lsys session, passed q law
hich ought TO b4vs been enacted half o cen
ny ago. fsis Law t, regulate the time
ia manner of holding elections for senators
1.-THE Unitsd States. Had such . law exist
there would have been Q vast number OF
.sss of contested election that could not
Ave arisen, and there would have been few
N of those instances where minorities have
R:factious proceedings defeated the election
Il senators. The new law provides thai sen
sors shall De chosen By that Legislators next
'eceding the occurrence of . vacancy by the
SEPARATION Of the term of the sitting member.
b provides that, on the second Tuesday after
lie meeting and organization of said legisla-
IRE, each house shall, by q cica roce vote,
ssme one person to be a senator in congress ;
tm.jority of the members present to be nee
i,sary for such election. If the same person
10 chosen by both houses, then such person
E,all be declared to be the senator elect. In
Aase the two houses shall fail to choose the
emo person, then, sttwelvs o'clock on the
gay following, the members of the two hous-
i, shall convene in JOINT assembly, and pro.
led to vote riva voce for senator, and the
srson havinga majority Of all the votes Of
lid joint meeting Ia majority of all the
eiombers elect to the legislature beng pre-
.nt) shah be declared elected. Tn case nc
erson DO elected on that day, the joint meet
lg shall ressssmble daily until such election
effected. a -a.e~.
Whensyer On the mseting of /. Legislature
vacancy IN the senate shall exist, the legs
lture shall, in like manner, proceed to cleo,
/. senator to I'LL such vacancy.
|, The effect Of this law will be to secure the
j. lection of senators; il will break up the SOC
Common practice Of a minority controlling one
ranch refusing to 20 into an election, and
lso. the reprehensible practice of the minor
~ keeping away from the joint meeting
. nd thus defeating quorum. The Law
.lakes majority of all the members cleo
not majority of each house, quorum t,
leet senators.
/, This will change somewhst the practice o
s,lecting senators by the legislature of thi
,,tate. Our state senate consists of onl,
=. wenty five mem bers. seventeen of whom ar
necessary to quorum. Il is hardly eve
q probable that either party can elect seven
cen of the twenty five members, consequent
ii y 1t is always in the power Of she minority
s)y Withdrawing, 70 defeat resolution to e
Il nso the election of senator. State senator
rave heretofore, and in some cases it may b
now, found themselves of considerable va
Re at such times. Under this law, they los
It easttwe-thirds OF that special value. /
Ienstor elected by the majority under the oil
practice might sell out to the other side; IN
Ter this law the inducsment TO purchas
lin is in great measure taken away, An,
lis chances of remaining faithful are proper
onatsly increased. The Joint meeting i
"a low matter Of course, and the minn-it.
! lad their recruits may stay out or go in
:, he majority can TRANSACT business withou
hem.
e Il may occur, however, that parties ma,
1 % so equally divided that change Of on
. rots may change the election, but in such
s iase the senator has no greater value than
b member of the other house. The member
y # the two branches are equal in joint NEE;
ne, and the control is absolutely vested il
he majority. This majority may consist ez
o ,lusively of the members of the lower house
i st all events, faction hereafter is despoile
at all It's power in the election of senators Q
~ he United States.