New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-23
FOR 4 SIX-YEAR PRESIDENTIAL 7ERM
MIR. SPRINGER PROPOSING TO ABOLISH THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE EXPENSES ATTEND
ING FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

ING FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
Washington. Jan. % ,Speclall.-Thc House Com
mttcc Election Of President. Vice President and
Representatives in Congress to-day heard arguments
by Mr.. Springer favor of his Joint resolution TO
amend the Constitution Of the United states in rel
ercncc 10 the election Of persons 10 fill such Offices
He proposes that the of the President shall be
six years, and that the President shall De ineligible
for reelection for the next ensuing term. lie also
proposes that the President and NlcePrc,ident shall
be voted for directly, and that the Electoral College
shall be abolished although the electorate principle Is
be retained. by providing that the aggregate popular
vote Of a state shall be- divided by the number OF
electoral to which the state y entitled. and tho
quotient shall be the ratio Of ELECTORAL vote for such
state The whole number Of popular votes received
bv each candidate is then to De d
vidcd. and the ratio arising from the division
is 10 represent the number OF electoral votes 70 when
each candidate is entitled I'm that state. ana the canal
date having the largest fraction after smch dlVlNloh
shall receive the electoral vote. II the sum OF uio
fraction shall equal the ratio before menu"he"
The return Of the Electoral College Of the state 10
be canvassed BIZ the Governor the secretary OF State
and the Chief Justice Of the highest Appellate Court
in the state and be then by them certified to Ton
gress. The proposed amendment also provinces tla'
the term of Representatives In Congress shal be thee
years. There seems to bc considerable sentiment III
the committee in favor Of the proposition to make the
rcsentatives in Congress three years
The Committee also heard General Osborne, 81
Pennsylvania in favor Of his bill 10 define the neces
sary or proper expenses incident to the nomination
and election or appointment Of senators and Rcprc-cn
tavcs in Congress- aud to authorize the pay mcht
thereof.
The bill provides that person who shall here
after be candidate for nomination or for election to
the senate House OF Representatives shall pay or
cfih \.
other valuable thing. or knowingly allow 1t to be d"hc
by Others for him. either for the nomination. clc'u"h
or appointment except necessary expenses, a. i"l
lows First. for printing and travelling EXPENSE
secondly for dissemination Of information to the pub
lie thirdly. for political meetings em"n'tai"n, "I
conventions, The foregoing eNPce, may ne ~, ~
either IN person or thrOuGh other individuals or
committees of ORGANIZATIONS duN constituted Tor ti'
purpose bit nothing coutrucd n the act shan he 80
construed a. To- authorize the payment 81 uN'''
other valuable thing for the vote or nhuch,r %
any clectOr. either directly or indirectly, ~ primary
general special elections. nominating c"hN'Hlo''
state Legislatures, for any corrupt purpose Nnl'
ever incident Ia AN election appointment. lhe
b further provides that every person violating eth
OF the provisions 90 the act shall lr EulN 81 !l'
dcmcanor. and. on conviction -hall De SUBJECT u"
fine not exceeding - 900 and - iWpu-"uincni not
exceeding two years. or both. or either At inc us
erection Of the court. 40, A., .,
miitcc hvorahly hut. I'm ~" opinion "i >olr %, .'
members. u would be- inadequate 10 prevent hHrrI
General osborne remarked that ne hil WA, sud
stautially the same the Pcuu-NlNdhlt statute ",
the subject. which to sr"at cNi"nt. h'd 'i''h''
and prevented bribery At elections rs 'ti'rheh,
in regard ~ the effect II the PENNSYLVANIA law was
corrohorated ~ Mr. Isuckarw who i> member If ne
committee. II decided :" REFER the hiN Z" SUP
committee and il is probable that. with some amend
effective. il viii De- favorbN reported - the House"
The bill j. the same A. Wa introduced bi General
mously reported avorahly by the committee. but was
never reached Tor action.