The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-19

Blnhu StOWS lnulRnaNL unN AC.
cuscs tho Veterans Of DulldozIng In
Behalf Of tho Anti.Silvcritcs.-.
Washington News. ~
WAsulSGroS, D. G., Feb. 1S.-"If
tho amendment to the constitution
which is proposed, ia adopted, tho men,
bcrs OF tho senate OF the United States
will be chosen by tho direct vote OF the
free people Of tho several states, and it
will be, what it never yet las boon,
tho popular branch OF tho Congress
OF the United States" These
wcro the words OF Senator Palmer, OF
Illinois, in his speech i'll the Senate to.
day, urging tho election OF United
States senators by popular vote, and his
arraignmont Of tho upper house of Con-
grcss rs non-popular body, using Ian.
guagc not often heard by tho venerable
members OF that dignilied assembly.
That this language, too, should have
been used in iho maiden speech OF q
new senator was not i'll keeping with
the usual decorum and traditions OF
that august body, but rs Senator Pal
mCr fought his way to scut in the up
per house by the advocacy OF the prin-
ciplo OF popular election OF senators and
indeed, TO some degree, as an opponent
OF some OF tho restrictions involved in
senatorial courtesy" ho probably does
not Ieel constrained to observe with
reverence all the barriers OF tradition.
ITS PROVISIONS.
The resolution presented by Senator
Palmer, and which is now pending in
the senate, provides for the formal sub
mission OF constitutional amendment
requiring United States senators to be
elected by . direct vote OF the people OF
the various states, instead OF by the
state legislatures, as ut present.
Senator Palmer opened his speech by
saying that in urging his constitutional
amendment ho only obcyed the instruc-
tons given him in the most impressive
manner by the people Of the state OF
Illinois.
"Thc people of Illinois," said he, ."are
loyal to the constitution and are de-
voted to the principles OF orderly, con-
stItntiona!, free government, but they
believe that the elccti II OF senators by
their state legislature under existing
conditions has failed OF satisfactory no.
suits. A"
The senator insisted that the consti-,
tutiona! mode OF electinc senators BY
the legislatures Of the states was no
longer satisfactory to the American
people. lie did not mean to make
himself responsible for the charges OF
bribery and undue influence that at
tended nearly every senatorial election,
BY indorsinS or resolving any OF them.
lie referred to them in that slight
manner, only to emphasize the state
men. that the people no longer coniideG
ln but were profoundly distrustful OF
the methods o. clecting senators by the
state legislatures.
WHAT IT WOULD DO.
"Thc elections for the choice OF presi-
DENTAL electors, the election OF mem.
bcrs OF the legislature who elect sena-
tors, the election OF ncmbcrs OF tho
house OF representatives in Congress"
said the senator, "are aliko influenced
and often controlled by the unfair ar-
rangcments OF districts. II the amend
ment to the constitution which ! pro-
pose is adopted the members OF the sen.
;Ito OF tho United States will be chosen
BY the direct vote OF tho free people Of
tho several states, and will DO what
never has yet been, tho popular branch
oil the Congress of the United States"
Senator Mitchell, OF Oregon, said that
he Ind listened with pleasure to the
very able remarks OF tho senator from
Illinois. He (NIr. Mi,chell) had had
the honor oLintroducing similar pro-
position III 1855, and one Mt the present
session. Similar amendments had also
been introduced by tho senators from
Indiana and New Hampshire, Nlcssrs.
I.ulrpic aud Chandler. Allthcsc propo-
s''lons had been referred to tho commit
zee on privileges and elections aud by
mat committee to q subcommittee
composed OF Senators Chandler, Turpie
aha himself, ind he was gratiiiod in be-
gable to state that after consulta-
Honn, majority. OF that subcommittee
nal agreed TO report in favor of such an
amendment 10 the constitution. It
was their hopo md belief that worry
carly day the full committee on privi-
seScs and elections would be nble to re-
port lavorably an amendment similar
N respects to the one introduced by
,le senator IRON Illinois. The subject
"len went over.
EuLo"lEs OF SENATOR PLUME.
AF. Pctfer offered resolutions that tho
senate has heard with profound sorrow
Tie death OF Senator Plumb, and that
rs !; a mark OF respect to his memory the
BUSINESS OF tho senate be suspended TO
Sl'aoie Soie the senate to pay q tribute of re.
spect to his high character and distin-
HuiShcd public services.
Mr. Pe!icr addressed the senate in eu-
'oEy OF deceased, He spoke Of him as
ome M oil those grand characters that stand
out m among their fellows like peaks in
mountain ranges. beginning, he said,
"Sr ~ !" poor boy, Mr.. Plumb had been an
eH!tor At sixteen years OF age, {, captain
y. ,,,'! .l'''tla ut twenty, member OF consti-
Mlonal convention ut twenty-five, law
;vF III twcnty.iour, state legislator, leu
,enIaNt, "aI, captain, mayor, and colonel OF
sosVllteors at twenty-five, United States
senator nj forty SDrnI,, .hnrn ,roe ~