The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-06
THE SENATE.
Continuation of the Debate on tho Three
Senator'S Cases.

wa Wv hNbNtN uA hAN AAAANN
Senator'S Cases.
WASHINGTON, D, O., April 6,-In the
senate to-day the report Of the commit
tee on privileges and elections in favor
OF seating the three senators from Nom
tana, Washington and Wyoming under
appointment by the governors OF those
states was taken up aud Mr., Chandler,
(Rep. N. II. q member OF the commit.
tee, made an argument In support Of
the resolution. He opened his speech
with "reminiscences OF John b. Hale, OF
New Hampshire, tho first anti-slavery
senator (lS45) quoting some verses OF
..Whittler's written in honor OF that
occasion; and after reviewing the his
tory Of somo gubernatorial appoint
ments OF senators from that state he
said that he had supposed that the
governor had not the power to appoint
senators in cases whore the legislature
had failed to elect, hut he had now
reached the conclusion that the COVER
nor's had that right.
Tho question was one simply between
n technical and narrow construction OF
the constitution aud broad and liberal
construction Of it, The modern idea
was that "a the states were entitled
to the senators they all should be in
the senate, not only tor the benefit OF
their respective states, but for the bene-
fit OF the whole United States, and that
whenever there was not senator
elected by the legislature there should
be one appointed by the governor
Mr.. Palmer, member OF the commit
tee on privileges and elections, argued
against the minority report and re'
piled to some OF Mr.. Chandler's proposi-
tions. He had been referred to by the
senator IA desiring to alter the constitu-
ton in order to give the election OF SEN
Otors to the people OF the United States.
He did so desire, but he desired tohaVe
the constitution altered by formal pro-
vision, to have it changed deliberately
and solemnly. No inconsistency could
be predcated or charged, and it would
be found that the most dangerous class
OF politicians in the country were those
who believed and taught that the frame
work OF government, the constitution
was to be modified, not by formal ac-
ton on one of the methods prescribed
by the constitution, but was to be
altered by construction so as TO meet
changed conditions.
Mr.. Palmer went on to argue tho
question in detail-against the right Of
governors TO appoint senators under the
circumstances existing IN the case in
question. He argued in conclusion
that il tho tone OF construction insisted
upon by the majority Of tho committee
we're pursued the time would not be far
distant when the power OF state leglsla-
tures to elect senators would be very
largely abridged, and when there would
be combinations in states to defeat the
choice OF senators by legislatures so us
10 insure their appointment by gov
ernors. The process was an easy one.
The safe course was to restrict the
power OF the governors to appoint sena-
tors. II legislatures failed to elect SEN
ators the legislatures should be held
responsible to the people.
Mr.. Petier obtained tho floor and the
matter went over till tomorrow,
Resolutions wore reported from the
committee on contingent expenses as
follows:
Directing the commissioner Of labor
to make report at opening Of the Fifty
third Congress as to total cost OF various
iron products and textile fabrics and
authorizing the committee on finance to
make investigation OF the matter as it
may deem important Laid over.
Instructing the committee on immi-
grafton to inquire into the condition
and character OF alien immigrants com.
ing into the United States, whether tho
laws against importating contract labor
arc properly enforced, and as to the exc
cution OF tho immigration laws.
Agreed to.
Mr. Chandler offered a resolution
directing the secretary Of treasury Ia
furnish the senate with copies Of all the
reports OF the Citizons National Bank
OF Washington, D. g., the bank Of
which Senator Roach was cashier from
1875 to 1852, and OF all reports made by
bank examiners as to its condition dur
ing that period.
Nj. Gordon-Lct that resolution &C
overANTr. President.
The resolution went over and after q
short executive session the senate adj
| journed.