Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-19
And Courtesy Knocked Into a Cooked
Hat by Mr.. Palmer.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
To Elect United States Senators by Direct Vote
Of the Free People Under Discussion-SOms
Telling Points Made by Senator Palmer.
The Sub Committee With Him.


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 his
speech in the Senate to-day, urging the
election of United States Senators by
popular vote, and his arraignment OF
the upper house of Congress as nom
popular body, using language not often
heard by the venerable members OF that
dignified assembly.
That this language too, should have
| been used in the maiden speech OF a
new Senator was not in keeping with
| the usual decorum and traditions OF
that august body, but as Senator Pal
mer fought his way to a seat in the
upper house by the advocacy OF the
principle of popular election Of SEN
ators, and indeed to some degree as an
opponent of some OF the restrictions In
volved in Senatorial courtesy" he
probably does not feel constrained to
observe with reverence all the barriers
of tradition.
The resolution presented by Senator
Palmer and which is now pending in
the Senate, provides for the formal sub
mission of constitutional amendment
recurring United States Senators TO be
elected by direct vote Of the people of
the various States, instead OF by the
State Legislature, as at present.
Senator Palmer opened his speech by
saving that in urging this constitutional
ho nply nhAund the lngtrnp-
tions given him in the most impressive
manner by the people OF the State OF
Illinois. The people OF Illinois, said
he, "are loyal to the constitution and
are devoted to the principles OF orderly,
constitutional, free government, but
they believe that the election OF Sena-
tors by their State Legislature under
existing conditions has failed OF salts
factory results.
The Senator insisted that the consti-
tutional mode Of electing Senators by
the Legislatures of the States was no
longer satisfactory to the American
people. He did not mean to make him.
self responsible for the charges OF
bribery and undue influence that attend
ed nearly every Senatorial election by
indorsing or resolving any Of them; he
referred to them in that slight manner
only to emphasize the statement that
the people no logger conhded in, but
were profoundly distrustful OF the
methods of electing Senators by the
State Legislatures. If the amendment
to the Constitution which he proposed,
should be adopted, Senators could be
chosen by the direct vote of the free
people of the several States and the
Senate would be what it never had been,
the popular branch of Congress.
"The elections for the choice Of Pres
idential electors, the election OF men,
bers of the Legislature, who elect SEN
ators, the election OF members OF the
House of Representatives in Congress,
said the Senator, "are alike influenced
and often controlled by the unfair ar
rangementS OF districts. II the amend
ment to the Constitution which pro-
pose is adopted the members OF the Sen
ate OF the United States will be chosen
by the direct vote Of the people Of the
several States, and will be what it never
has yet been, the popular branch OF the
Congress of the United States"
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, said that
he had listened with pleasure to the
very able remarks of the Senator from
Illinois, he (Mr. Mitchell) had had the
homer Of introducing similar PROPOSE
tlon in 1855, and one at the present ses-
sion. Similar amendments had also
been introduced by the Senators from
Indiana and New Hampshire, Messrs.
Turpie and Chandler. All these propo-
sitions had beeu referred to the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections and by
that committee to subcommittee com
posed of Senators Chandler, Turpie and
himself, and he was gratified in being
able to state that after consulta-
tion, majority OF that sub
committee had agreed TO
report in favor of such an amendment to
the constitution. 1t was their hope and
belief that at a very early day the full
Committee on Privileges and Elections
would be able to report favoraoly an
amendment similar in respects to the
one introduced by the Senator from HI
inoiS.
The subject then went over.
Among the petitions reported and re-
ferred by the Senate was one by Mr..
Voorhees,, from some citizens Of Weed
ersburg, Ind, asking that the Pinker-
ton detective force be suppressed by
Flaw, or else that it be incorporated in
the military force Of the country.
Mr.. Dolph moved to take from the
calendar and pass the bill extending for
ten years the laws preventing the in
PRODUCTION Of Chinese into the United
States, but Mr.. Hawiey objected. 1t
was, he said, bill Of unusual severity
and he wished at least time to read 1t.
Mr.. Dolph gave notice that he would
call it up at an early day.
Mr.. PETER offered resolutions that the
Senate has heard with profound sorrow,
the death of Senator Plumb, on Decem-
Der 90, and that as mark Of respect to
his memory, the business of the Senate
be suspended to enable the Senate TO
pay proper tribute of respect to his
high character and distinguished public
services.
Mr.. PETER addressed the Senate in
eulogy Of deceased. He spoke of him
as one OF those grand characters that
stand out among their fellows like peaks
in mountain ranges. Beginning as a
poor boy, Mr.. Plumb had been an editor
at sixteen years of age, captain OF
militia at twenty, member Of Consti-
tutional convention at twenty-five, law
yer at twenty-iour, State legislator,
lieutenant, captain, major and colonel
of volunteers at twenty-five and United
States Senator at forty. Surely there
. lo.a1p In auch a life vfawad in