Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-07-20
POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATOR'S
Joint Resolution From the House Commit
tee Presented and Argued Yesterday.
The REPUBLIC BUREAU,
Cor. 14Tn ST. AND PENNSYLVANIA, AVE.
GIL V,,ix 1.bl lnrl

Joint Resolution From the House Commit
tee Presented and Argued Yesterday.
THE REPUBLIC BUREAU
Cor. 14Tn ST. AND PENNSYLVANIA, AVE,
WASHINGTON, July L., 1892.
The House to- day devoted the great
;; er portion of its time to discussing the
amendment to the Constitution provid-
ing for the election of Senators by di-
rect vote of the people. The resolution
was reported by Mr. Tucker of Virgin
in from the Committee on Election of
President and Vice President and Re-
representatives. in Congress The resolu-
tion reads as follows
! Joint resolution proposing an amendment
| to the Constitution providing that Senators
! shall be elected by the people of the several
States.
Resolced, By the Senate and House of Re
representatives. of the United States of America
in Congress assembled (twothirds of each
house concurring therein), that i'll lieu of the
| first paragraph of section of article l of the
Constitution of the United States, and in lieu
OF SO much of paragraph 2 of the same section
! as relates to the filling of vacancies, and in
lieu of all of paragraph of section of said
article l, in 50 far as the same relates to any
authority in Congress to make or alter regula-
| tons as to the time or manner of holding cleo
tions for Senators, the following be proposed
as an amendment to the Constitution, which
shall be valid to all intents and purposes Us
part of the Constitution when ratified by tn,
legislatures of three-fourths of the States:
The Senate of the United States shalt be com
posed of two Senators from each State, electct
by the people thereof for six years, and each
Senator shall have one vote. The electors il
each State shall have the qualifications requi
site for electors of the most numerous branch
of tie State legislatures. The times place.
and manner Of holding elections for Senators
| hall aS m Stata hIyt \,
Legislature thereof. When vacancies happier
in the representation OF any State in the Sen
ate, the executive authority of such State shall
issue writs ofselection to fill such vacancies
Provided. that the Legislature of any Stat
may empower the executive thereof to make
temporary appointments until the people fill
the vacancies by election, as the Legislature
may direct
This amendment shall not be so construct
as to affect the election or term of any Senate
chosen before it becomes valid as part of TIN
Constitution.
1t will be seen that the words of thu
Constitution ''but the Congress ma,
at any time by law make or alter sucl
regulations except as to the places o
} choosing Senators" is omitted from thu
proposed amendment. This was TIN
clause upon which the advocates of tn
force bill based their constitutions
right to control the election of tn
: members of Congress. The trainers o
the present amendment desired to oh
literate all possibility of a force bill il
future and amended that clause of tn
Constitution.
The discussion was opened and tn
principal speech of the day made b,
Henry st. George Tucker of Virginia
This is Mr.. fuckers second term. II
is son of John Randolph Tucker
who served SO long and with such dis
tinguished ability in Congress. MI
Tucker proved that he was chip o
the old block. He spoke for an hou
and delivered an argument worthy o
the oldest and most experienced an;
ablest members of the House of Repre-
sentatives. He showed thorough
knowledge of law and of the Constitu
ton. He was eloquent, forceful an
earnest. and was listened to with pre-
, found attention by a crowded house
When he concluded he was cOngratu
lated both by political friends and or
ponents. Debate ON the joint resolu
ton lasted until 4:30, and then an ell
fort was made to order the previou
: question in order to obtain a vote OF
the measure. The Republicans thel
began to filibuster under the lead Q
Reed. The Republicans did not wan
their pet excuse for force bill knock
ed out of the Constitution, nor did the
want the people of the different State
to elect Senators. They prefer the pre-
sent system of electing by Legislatures
knowing that it is easier to corrupt tn
!, members of a Legislature than the pee
pie of an entire State. As, under
rule of the House, tonight was Sc
apart for consideration of pension bills
, a recess had to be taken at 5 O'Clock
The Republicans filibustered until tina
hour and a vote was not taken on tn
proposed amendment to the Constitu
ton. A vote will be taken on tn
measure, however, before the Hous
adjourns, and the Democratic Hous
will go on record as favoring the cleo
| ton of Senators by a direct vote of tn
DeODle