St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-10
CONSTITUTIONAL AME MOMENTS.
Some OF the More Important oT
Those Before Congress.
Special TO the Globe.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Nearly every
congress is prolific in the introduction of
amendments to the constitution. These
amendments generally fall with the session.
1t is doubtful whether it will be possible to
ever amend the constitution again unless
we have some period of great public excite
ment and interest Ii requires TO amend
the constitution q two-thirds vote of the
senate and house. the approval of the pres
ident and afterwards a ratification by a
majority OF the people IN three fourths of
the states. 1t is very long and difficult
road. There are two amendments TO the
constitution which have been introduced
this session which certainly possess great
merit One is by Judge Payson, which
will permit the president to veto special
items in general appropriation bills. Now.
If job is smuggled into general appro-
priation bill, the president cannot defeat
the measure by a veto without often in
curing the expense and danger of an extra
session. If the president were to have the
authority of vetoing special items he could
guard against any undue extravaganza
on the part of too literally
winded congress. The second amendment
and an important one in its bearings, Is
from Mr.. Mattson of Indiana This
postmasters by the people. This is a re-
form which has been contemplated for
some time. 1t would take out of the hands
of the president and postmaster general
upward of $4,000 appointments. 1t would
make the service non-partisan also, be-
cause Democrats and Republicans would be
made pOstmaSters according TO the will of
the people Of their towns. The postoffiee
department at present is
A GREAT POLITICAL MACHINE.
The postmaster general, if he wishes to
exercise his powers, can control elections
and influence conventions far beyond that
of any other member of the government.
The tendency of an election of postmasters
by the people whom they serve would be
to have a much better service. Another
amendment to the constitution is proposed
by Gen. Weaver of Iowa the late Green
back candidate for the presidency. Gen.
Weaver has introduced more bills and reso-
lutions than any other member of the house.
He wants TO reorganiZe the finances of the
country and to establish a labor bureau at
Washington, the head of which will have a
seat in the cabinet. His most
radical proposition, however, is in
the proposed amendment to the
constitution. He would have the members
of the United States senate elected directly
by the people. There is no doubt but what
such proposition as this, If it could be
carried out, would result in the election of a
much better class of senators. There is
not one of the millionaire senators who have
bought their feats in the senate through
corrupt legislatures who would never have
succeeded in reaching the senate if he had
been obliged to go before the people for his
election. Gen. Weaver claims for his prop
osition that such a method of elections
would do away with the possibilities Of cor
ruption which now seeks to control in
nearly every senatorial campaign. There
is no doubt but what we would have better
speakers in the senate if the people had the
election of the senators. 1t is idle, how
ever. to discuss such q proposition at any
length, because the millionaire club. known
as the United States senate, would never
pass such proposition as this, for 1t would
strike directly at its members and make
their reelection forever impossible.
The Dakota Measure.
Special 70 the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. e.-The official
representatives from the state Of South
Dakota assembled to-day in the senate COM
mittee room on territories, to hear Senator
Harrison read his report on his bill Of ad-
mission. In addition TO points sent last
night relative to Missouri, it Is learned that
Iowa will be cited as precedent for people