The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-19
TO ELECT SENATORS
Palmer FavOrs Their Election by
Direct Vote of the People.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
One VIII Probably be Adopted-Bland Ac-
cuses Harter Of Trying to Divide the
G. A. r. on Silver.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-''If the amend
ment to the constitution which L 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
1t will be what it never yet has been-the
popular branch of the Congress of the
United States"
Ihese were the words used by Senator
Palmer, OF Illinois, in his speechin the Sen
ATE today, urging the election of United
States Senators by popular vote, and his
arralgnment of the upper house of Con-
gress as
A NoN-PoPULAR BODY
was IN his language not often heard by the
venerable members of that dignifed as
sembly Senator Palmer opened his speech
by saying in urging the amendment he only
obeyed the instructions given him in the
most impressive manner by the people of
illinois. The Senator reviewed briefly the
Douglas and Lincoln senatorial contest in
illinois. and then detailed the successive
steps and declarations made by the De-
nocracy OF illinois III regard TO this sub
Ject which finally led to the Democratic tri-
umph In that state and the election of
nlinseu as the representative of that prin-
clple to the United States senate
Inc Senator insisted the constitutional
mode OF the election of Senators by the
legislatures OF the states was
NO LONGER SATISFACTORY
to the American people He did not mean
10 make himself responsible for the charges
OF bribery and unuue influence that at
oil
endorsing or repeating any of them. He
referred TO them in that slight manner only
TO emphasize the statement that the people
no longer contded In but were profoundly
dlstrusttul OF the methods OF electing Sena-
tors by the state legislatures. None of the
reasons which led the trainers of the con-
stltutlon to deprive the people OF direct
control OF the executive department or the
Senate now existed. Experience had long
ago demonstrated the uselessness of
electors for the selection Of Presi-
dent and President The wealth
invested IN commerce, in manu-
lectures, In railways, forests and mines,
demanded Legislation for It's protection or
It's benefit ana its political power, whether
employed IN Congress or the state legisla-
ture, rarely failed of success. All that the
people could gain by the proposed amend
ment would be
SELE-DEFENSE.
Senators would be the true and exact rep
resentatlves of the people and defend their
homes and property from unequal and ex-
cesslve burdens. They would dignity the
states, Tor the people were the states
Elections Tor the choice of presi-
Dental electors; the election of mem
oers or the legislature who elect
senators; the election of members of the
House OF Representatives in Congress-
SAID the Senator, ''are ALIKE Influenced and
often controlled by an unfair arrangement
OF districts. Ii the amendment to the con-
stltutlon which l propose is adopted. mem
bers of the Senate will be chosen by di-
rect vote OF the free people OF the several
states, and the Senate will be what it has
never yet been, the popular branch of the
Congress of the United States"
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, said he
listened with pleasure to the able remarks
OF the Senator from Illinois. He Mitch
ELY had had the honor of Introducing a
similar proposition in 1883, and one at the
present session. Similar amendments
we're also introduced by Senators from In
diana and New Hampshire (Turpie and
Chandler). All these propositions
were referred to the COMMITTEES
on privileges and elections, and by
that committee to subcommittee
composed Of Senators Chandler, Turpie
anu uiHSSl4, auu uO WAS grained 10 De able
to state after consultation a majority of
that subcommittee agreed to
REPORT IN FAVOR OF SUCH AMENDMENT
to the constitution. 1t was their hope and
belief that at very early day the full
committee on privileges and elections
would be able to report faYorably an
amendment similar 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 Hanley objected. 1t was, he
said, bill of extraordinary severity and
he wished at least time to read it. Dolph |
gave notice he would call it up at an early
day. PETER, Perkins, Merrill, Allison, |
Hale, Daniel, Dolph and Turpie delivered
eulogies on the late Senator Plumb and the |
Senate adjourned.