Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-22
The House Accepts ihe Senate Amend
ments; then Takes Up the Legis-
lative Appropriation Bill.
ELECTIONS OF SENATORS.
Mr.. Mitchell Speaks in Favor of
the People Choosing Them Direct.
SENATE,

Mr.. Hiscock made personal explanation to
the effect that the bill introduced by him on
the 18th instant in reference to national banks
was one which he introduced by request pre-
sentinS IT as he would present a memorial
coming from respectable source. There was
very little in the bill that he approved
A resolution was reported and agreed to for
the employment of six additional messengers
for the Senate at $l,440 each. three skilled
laborers at $1,000 and three laborers 1T s72O
Among the bills reported and placed on the
calendar was one for the relief of the southern
exposition at Louisville, Ky.
THE SUPREME COURT SITE BILL AMENDED.
On motion of Mr.. Harris the vote by which a
bill was passed last Saturday providing site
for the Supreme Court building was reconsid-
cred and the bill was amended by giving the
Supreme Court of the District power to hear
testimony In contested cases of valuation and
as amended it was again passed
Mr.. Cockreli offered resolution (which was
agreed to) directing the superintendent of the
census to communicate to the Senate the forms
OF the rules and regulations adopted by him
Tor obtaining statistics as to farm mortgages.
MIR. Henderson offered a resolution (Which
was agreed to) calling on the Secretary of War
for copies of reports prepared under the direc-
ton OF the chief signal officer of the army as to
the climate OF Nebraska, showing particularly
the climatic conditions to Temperature and
rainfall in the agricultural section.
FOR FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
Mr.. Plumbs resolution heretofore offered)
for the increase of the Treasury purchase and
coinage of silver was presented and Mr. Eustis
moved, as an addition to it, further resolu-
tion that the free coinage of silver is essential
to sound financial policy and is demanded by
all the great interests of the country, and that
wS tluO hQ coin aOf Gil
yer ought to be repealed.
MIR. Plumb consented TO let the resolution lie
over for the present, so as to give Mr.. Mitchell
an opportunity to address the Senate.
ELECTION OF SENATORS BY POPULAR VOTE.
Mr.. Mitchell addressed the Senate in favor of
the constitutional amendment proposed by him
for the election of Senators by popular vote
He summarized the debate in the constitutional
convention on that subject, and stated that
the plan of having Senators elected By the
state Legislatures was compromise be-
tween widely diverging and conflicting
views In convention. One of these views had
been properly characterized as q long stride
toward monarchy. That was the proposition
to have Senators appointed by the President of
the United States. The opposite view was the
election of Senators by the people But mu-
tual concessions had been made and it was de-
cided that Senators should be chosen by the
legislatures of the several states 1t did not fol-
low, however, that changes should not be made in
the fundamental charter. Already fifteen
changes had been made and who, he asked.
would insist that any of them was not we'll ad-
yisedi In every one of them. gradually. step
by step.with a stately and captivating grandeur.
the doors of individual liberty had been Wild
ened. civil rights had been enlarged and the
spirit of monarchy rebuked. All those amend
ments led up logically to the pending PROPOSE
ton.
The present system Of electing Senators Mr.
Mitchell declared to be unrepublican. not DEM
ocratic and vicarlous in ali respects: TO be in
purpose and effect a declaration that for some
occult reason it was unsafe TO commit the cleo
tion OF Senators to the vote of the people; and
to be a reflection on the honesty or capacity
(or both) of the voting classes.