The record-union., 1892-02-19
Special 10 the REconp-uxrox.

Special 10 fhe RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-"Tf the amend
ment to the Constitution which propose
is adopted, members of the Senate OF the
United States will be chosen by direct vote
of the free people of the several States,
and it will be, what il has never yet
been, the popular branch of Congress Of
the United States" These were the
words of Senator Palmer OF Illinois in his
speech in the Senate to-day urging the
election of United States Senators by .
popular vote, and his arralgnment of the
upper house of Congress as a non-popu-
lar body was in his language not often
heard by the venerable members of that
dignified assembly. Senator Palmer
opened his speech by saying that in urg-
ing the amendment he only obeyed the
instructions given him in a most impress
sive manner by the people Of Illinois.
The Senator reviewed briefly the Doug
las and Lincoln Senatorial contest in H.
lnois and then detailed the successive
steps and declarations made by the De-
mocracy of Illinois in regard TO this sub
ject, which finally led to a Democratic
triumph in that State and the election Of
himself as representative OF that prInCi-
pie to the United States Senate.
The Senator insisted that the constitu-
tional mode Of selecting Senators by the
Legislatures of States was no longer SAT
lStactory TO the American people. lie
did not mean to make himselfres ponsible
Tor the charges OF bribery and undue IN
fluence that attended nearly every Sena-
torial election by Indorsing or repeating
any OF them. He referred to them in that
slight manner only to emphasize the state
ment that the people no longer conhded
IN, but were profoundly distrustful of the
methods Of electing Senators by State
Legislatures. None Of the reasons which
led the trainers Of the Constitution to de-
prive the people of a direct control of
the Executive Department and Senate
now existed. Experience had long ago
demonstrated the uselessnesS of Electors
for the selection of President and Vice
President. The wealth invested in COM
merce, IN manufactures, in railways, in
forests and mining demanded legislation
FOR its protection or its benefit, and its
political power, whether employed III
Congress or the State Legislature, rarely
failed OF success.
All that the people could gain by the
proposed amendment would be enlarged
powers of sel1-detense. Senators would
be true and exact representatives Of the
people and defend their homes and prop
erty from unequal and excessive burdens
They would dignity the States, for the
people were the States. Elections Tor
choice of Presidential Electors, the cleo
ton OF members of the Legislature who
elect Senators, and the election of mem
bers of the House Of Representatives in
Congress-" said the Senator, ARE alike
influenced and often controlled by the un-
fair arrangement Of districts. II the
amendment TO the Constitution which |
propose is adopted, the members OF the
Senate will be chosen by direct vote of
the free people OF the several States, and
the Senate viii be what il has never vet
been, the popular branch Of the Congress
of the United states"
Senator Mitchell Of Oregon said he
listened with pleasure TO the able re-
marks Of the Senator from Illinois. He
(Mitchell) had the honor of introducing a
similar proposition in 1888, and one at
the present session. Similar amend
ments were also introduced by Senators
from Indiana and New Hampshire (Iur-
pie and Chandler. All these PROPOSE
tious were referred to the Committee on
Privileges aud Elections, and by that
committee to a subcommittee composed
OF Senators Chandler, Turpie and him
self, and he was gratitied to be able TO
state that after consultation the majority
of that subcommittee agreed to report in
favor OF sucn an amendment to the Con-
stituion. II was their hope and belief
that at an eIriy Gay the fall Committee on
Privileges and Elections would be able
TO report tavorably an amendment SINH
lar to the one introduced by the Senator
from Illinois.
The subject then went over.
Dolph moved to take from the calendar
and pass the bill extending for ten years
the laws preventing the Introduction of
Chinese, but Hawley objected. 1t was,
he said, bill Of extraordinary severity,
and he wished at least time 10 read it.
Dolph gave notice that he would call it
up at an early day.
PETER, Perkins. Morrill,, Allison, Hale
Daniels, Dolph and Turpie delivered Gu
logies on the late Senator Plumb, and the
Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The Grand
Army of the Republic not infreauently
has been accused of being used TO sub
serve partisan ends, but to-day the grave
charge of seeking To divide the party
against itself was preferred against lhiS
great organization in the House Bland
the free-coinage leader, was the accuser,
and Harter, a free-trader and anti-free-
coinage Democrat of Ohio. the gentleman
charged with attempting TO Subvert the
Grand Army of the Republic to the in
terests of capitalists and monopolists
Speaker Crisp called the House to order
this morning, but resigned the gavel to
Richardson OF Tennessee.
The Presidents message relative to the
Choctaw and Chickasaw claims was laid
before the House and read. The message
was then ordered printed and laid on the
table for the present.
4 protest OF the Philadelphia Board of
Trade against the fIee-coinage bill was
presented aud referred.
The Speaker pro tenn. laid before the
House the response of the Secretary OF
Treasury 10 the House resolution asking
for information as 10 the authority by
which the Observation-Disclosures
loan was extended.
It was ordered that when the House adj
iourned Friday it shall be TO meet Tues
day. This order was taken to enable
members to accept the invitation to visit
Chicago.
Geary of California, from the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill for
the exclusion of the Chinese. Placed on
the calendar.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole on the Indian appropriation
bill.
During the course of the general debate
on the bill Bland sent to the Clerks desk,
and had read, a circular letter written by
Harter TO various Grand Army posts in
denunciaIion of the free silver bill. and
advising the members of the posts TO
urge the Congressman to vote against it,
as 1t would prove detrimental TO the in
ferests of pensioners. This circular
Bland characterized as a bulldozing
document. Ii was an et1ort to int midate
members, and part of the bulldozing
tactics Of a millionaire, tactics which
have always been carried on IL opposi-
ton to measures which would give free
silver to the country. He denounced it as
unfair, and unbeeoming the dignity of a
member.
Harter admitted, the authorship Of the
circular letter TO the men who We're AFRAID
20 have the expression of their opinions
made public. Such a circular letter might