The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-13
CONSTITUTION AENDIHG.
Mr.. Chandler Protests Against the
Proposed Change.
DANGER IN CHOOSING SENATOR'S
BY POPULAR VOTE.

the Manner of Electing the President
Which Would Open the Door to Fraud
However,, If Changes Must Be Made,
He Is Ready with Several Pet
Schemes.
WASHINGTON, April 12.-In the Senate
today, the joint resolution proposing a
constitutional amendment for the cleo
ton of United States senators by the
people, was taken up.
Mr.. Chandler addressed the Senate in
opposition. His first objection was that
the change would be sure to result in the
adoption of a federal election law. He
regarded the extension of the system of
popular elections to the choice of United
States senators as sure to result in the
taking possession of the election machin-
cry by federal officials appointed by
the national government. 1t was almost
absolutely certain that, If adopted, it
would be followed by provisions for the
choice of President and Vice-President
by the people. Whenever the President
and Vice-President were chosen by the
people, it would be entirely possible for
one state to swell it's vote enormously by
fraudulent methods, OF other methods
not absolutely fraudulent, to overcome
the votes of other states. His second
objection was that it was the beginning
of an innovation. 1t would be the first
fundamental change of the federal con-
stitution concerning the national frame
Of government. The only suggestion
made in favor of the proposed change
was that wealthy men now got into the
Senate. The proposed constitutional
amendment was cowardly way OF deal
ing with the lnillionaires. If the
country was threatened by the million
aires, the way to deal with them
was directly; not to pl 'claim fear lest
they should buy their way into the SEN
ate by purchasing Legislatures. He had
prepared constitutional amendment he
was willing to support. 1t read: "The
excessive accumulation of wealth by in
dividuals or corporations shall not be
allowed. Congress shall enforce this ar
ticle by appropriate legislation; shall
prohibit the issue by corporations of
stock certificates, bonds or other evil
dence of Indebtedness except the sums
expressed therein be paid into the treas
uries of the corporations, and shall pro-
hibit the payment of excessive divi-
dends.' -
Mr.. Chandler stated he had drawn up
another constitutional amendment for
the election by the people of the Presi-
dent, Vice President, and heads of de-
partments, senators, judges, postmasters
and collectors, every two years, and
a,,a1o rs
popular government was to be establish
ed. Mr.. Chandler spoke of the evil of
caucus government and caucus nomina-
tions, and argued that the present sys-
tenn of electing senators was much less
liable to fraud and abuse. He cited the
alleged suppression of popular suffrage
in South Carolina, Mississippi and Lou
isiana, and the degraded condition of
voters In all the great cities of the I'm
ion, as arguments against the proposed
change.
The resolution and amendment were
referredNto the committee on elections.
The Pension List.
WASHINGTON, April 12.-The follow
ing pensions have been granted to people
in Maine:
ORIGINAL.
Fairchild J. Holman, Carlos D. Lane;
Luke Emery.
ADDITIONAL.
Daniel Murray.
INCREASE.
Robert Waterman, j. S. Maxwell
REISSUE.
Charles H. Lancaster, Abraham Stickney.
ORIGINAL WIDOWS, ETC.
Sarah e. Hill, Octavia S. True,
Emma Jordan,
Washington Notes.
Representative Cooper. of Indiana, be-
fore the House pension committee
Yesterday. denied that he had any know
ledge Of the improper use of his name by
Hersey, the pension attorney.
The House passed the urgency defici-
ency appropriation bill yesterday. It
carries $1.O12, ,636.
When the naval appropriation bill was
taken up in the House, yesterday, Mr..
Simpson, of Kansas declared that he did