The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-02-25
FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
SENATOR PALMER ADDRESSES THE
SENATE IN A RINGING TONE.
He Makes Strong Appeal For His consti'
tutional Amendment Providing For the
Election Of Senators by Direct
Vote of the People.
THE SENATE.

L propose is adopted, the members OF
the Senate will be chosen by the di-
rect vote of the free people of the sew
eral states and it will be what it never
yet has been-the popular branch OF
the congress of the United States"
These were the words of Senator
Palmer of Illinois, in speech today,
urging the election of United States
senators by popular vote and his ar
raignment of the upper house of con-
gress as a non-popular body was in
language not often heard by the ven
cradle members of that dignified as
sembly. That this language, too,
should have been used in the maiden
speech of new senator is not in keep
ing with the usual decorum and ira
dition of that august body. But as
Palmer fought his way to the seat in
the upper house by the advocacy of
the principle of popular election of
senators, he probably did not feel con-
strained to observe with reverence all
the barriera of tradition.
The resolutions presented by Palmer
and which is now pending in the
Senate, provides for the formal sub
mission of a constitutional amend
ment requiring that senator's be-
elected by direct vote of the people
of the various states, instead Of by
state legislators, as at present.
The senator reviewed briefly the
great Douglas and Lincoln senatorial
contest in Illinois, and then detailed
the successive steps and declarations
that have been made by the Democ-
racy of Illinois in regard to the sub
ject and which finally led to
the Democratic triumph of that
state and the election OF a
representative of that principle to the
United States Senate. The Senator
insisted that the constitutional mode
of electing Senators by the islatures
of the states is no longer satisfactory
to the American people. He did not
mean to make himself responsible for
the charges of bribery and undue in
fiuence that attended nearly every
Senatorial election by endorsing or re-
peating any of them. None of the
reasons which led the trainers of the
constitution to deprive the people OF
the direct control of the ex'
ecutive department and Of
the Senate now existed. Experience
long ago demonstrated the uselessness
of electors for the selection of the
president and vice. president. All that
the people could gain by the proposed
amendment would be in enlarged
powers of self defense. The senators
will be true and exact representative:
of the people and would defend theil
homes and property from unequal
and excessive burdens. They would
dignity the states, for the people were
states.
Senator Mitchell of Oregon said he
had listened with pleasure to the able
remarks of the senator from Ill
inois. The proposition had beer
referred to the committee or
privileges and elections and by
that committee to sub committee
and he was gratified in being able tC
state that after consultation a ma
iority of that sub committee agreed tC
report in favor of such an amendment
to the constitution. The subject tber
went over.
PETER offered resolution to the eff
feet that the Senate had heard with
profound sorrow of the death of Sen
ator Plumb of Kansas, ETC., and adj
dressed the Senatein eulogy of the de
ceased
Senator Cockrell paid a high tribute
to the dead senator, as did Senators
Perkins, Hale, Daniels, Dolph and
Turpie.
Adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHING TON, Feb. 18.-Speakel
Crisp called the house to order this
morning, but Immediately after the
delivery of prayers resigned the gave
to Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee.
The presidents message relative tC
the Choctaw and Chickasaw claims
was laid before the house and read by
the clerk. The message was ordered
printed and laid on the table for the
present.
Mr.. O'Neil of Pennsylvania pre-
scented protest of the Philadelphia
Board of Trade against the free coin
age bill. Referred.
The speaker laid before the house
the response of the. secretary of the
treasury to the house resolution ask
ing information as to the authority by
which IL per cent loan was extend
ed. On motion of Mr.. Newberry o.
Illinois, it was ordered printed.
When the House adjourns Friday il
shall be to meet Tuesday. This order
is taken to epable the members to &C
cept the invitation to visit Chicago.
Goar of California, from the com
mittee on foreign affairs, reported the
bill for the exclusion of Chinese.
The House then went into a com
mittee of the whole, Mr.. Bynum o
Indiana in the chair, on the Indiar
appropriation bill.
During the debate Mr.. Bland cen
to the clerks desk and had read cir
cular letter written by Mr.. Harter o
Ohio to the various CRANE
army posts in denunciation of thu
free silver bill, and advising the mem
bers of the posts to urge their com
rades to vote against, as it woulC
prove detrimental to the interest o
pensioners. This circular Bland char
acterized as a bulldozing document.