Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-03

49, '1e thSiSiOfc pt is
there moral obligation resting on a SEN
ator which would compel him to vote for a
measure against his own Judgment simply
because the Legislature of his state has
passed resolutions of instruction? The
question was debated IN private converse
ton among Senators recently. First, when
the kentucky legislature passed resolu-
tons instructing the Kentucky Senators to
vote against the confirmation of Mr.. Peck
nam TO be Supreme Court justice; after
wards, when the Maryland legislature
passed resolutions instructing the Mary
lano senators 10 vote for 1.-THE Wilson bill
Oh course, as Mr.. Allison pointed out to me
IN conversation, the instructions of the
maryland legislature. IL strictly INTERPRETED
could not be followed unless the Wilson
Dill was offered in the Senate as a sub
stitute for the bill reported by the finance
committee. The Senate bill is not ",ba
Wilson bill" and If they followed literally
the instructions they received Mr.. German
and Mr.. Gibson would have to vote ayaine,
the finance committees bill, whether ,hev,
liked ii or not
The Louisiana Senator'S
The Louisiana legislature meets in Nav
It will elect two United States Senators
III the tariff bill is still before the Senate
there is no doubt that the legislature win
ask pledges of the candidates for Senator
or will give instructions to the men elected
In regard to the sugar schedule These
instructions coming from the legislature
which elects them and being in the nature
of pledge under which they accept Office
will undoubtedly be obeyed. No one would
question the obligation in that case But
suppose that Mr.. Caffery was a hold-over
.fa1l x-,
posed. perhaps. of an entirely different SCI
of men. Would he be obliged to follow tn,
instructions of this new legislature-moral
~ obliged. of course? Assume that he be
lleved that allegiance to party require,
him TO vote for the bill: assume that h,
thought that the bill was better for tn
country than the existing law, though i
did an injury to his people. Would he b
under obligation to vote for the bill, follow
ing his own Judgment, or TO vote against II
| following the instructions of his legisla
ture?
Representatives EmbarraSsed.
A great many of the representatives il
Congress were even more embarrassed tina,
| their Senators will be. Coming SO directly
| from the people and looking to the peopl
so soon for reelection, they did not know
| whether they had more to fear from neg
/ lect of the interests of their districts o
| from failure to fulfill what they CONSIDERS
| their party obligations. And they had {
con slider, further, the Presidents wishes
| Loss of patronage means loss OF prestiG
| to many congressman. So they were be
| tween the patronage devil and the dee
sea of local tariff interests. Senators d
/ not depend so much on patronage for re
| election. and, besides, most of them do no
go before their people again for three
| five years.
| The Kentucky Senators solved the ques
| ton in the Peckham case by voting wit
| the President for confirmation-probab l
| on the theory that the nomination of
| Supreme Court justice from the state G
| New York was not a matter that concern
ed especially the people OF Kentucky. I'll
| Maryland Senators decline to say wha
| they will do about the tariff instruction
| from their legislature or to discuss III
| question of legislative instructions in III
abstract. In fact. very few Senators wi
| talk about the matter. 1t has too muc
| personal interest for them. Mr.. Frye CAV
me his opinion very frankly.
senator Frye.
| 81 think" he said, that in determinin
economic questions before Congress, G
those of policy. involving no principle. {
those relating especially to the state he rel
| resents in part, United States Senate
ought to be controlled by Instructions, "a
liberately considered and passed by II
legislature of his state. But no member {
Congress, in whichever House. ought TO
considered as a mere agent of the people !
his district or of the legislature of his stat
The power Of a member of Congress. Il
good or for i'll, is not limited by state {
district lines, but extends over the entiI
country. and in arriving at conclusions 4
TO his duty he must consider the ln.eres'
OF the republic. as well as those of h
state / do not think that any geners
rule can be laid down in the premises"
Mr.. Allison. with whom / had some col
|; | versation on the subject recently, said IN;
he believed that the surrounding condition
should govern in each case. If his legisl.
, ture instructed him to vote for the tart
bill reported to the Senate at this sessio
| for example. he would not vote for IL. b
if he had been instructed by the Iowa legi
lature to vote for the Mckinley bill, eve
though II contained provisions which d
not have his approval, he would have Re
: bound to follow those Instructions. NJ
: | Allison. too. does not believe that any fix,
: rule can be laid down.
; Depends ON Cfrcumstances.
II don't think ] care to discuss for pub
. cation the question whether a Senator is u
der any moral obligation to follow the 4
! structions of his legislature" said N
Plat of Connecticut. 1T would depel
upon circumstances and conditions, viii,
will suggest themselves to you"
Inc answer 10 the question would,
E my opinion, depend very largely on the Ct
, cumstances of the case" said Mr. Higeir
. land makes the answer to the auesti,
D largely matter of conjecture"
I Mr.. Teller declined to express an opinio
because, he said, he could not give II I
time and attention that IL deserved.
Mr.. Cockrell said out of the avalanche
work which has come upon him as cha
q man of the appropriations committs
Each Senator must determine for hims
e the moral obligation, If any, imposed III,
0 him by instructions passed by the iesis'
Y tive body of his state"
, Il am thoroughly satisfied that a Sena,
: of the United States is under eve
obligation to follow and obey the instrl
n lions Of the Legislature OF his state unle
a he was elected to the Senate upon CONT
O dictory issues" said Mr.: Perkins of ca
: fornia. A Senator should endeavor to RI
$ resent the majority of the people of
= | state"
e Mr. Mitchell of Oregon.
# Said Mr.. Mitchell of Oregon: You %,
s pound this question, is a United Stat
y Senator under any moral obligation to (
e low the instructions that may come to h
: from the legislature of his state. and VIII
n and why" Ny answer to this is that VIII
q the instructions of the legislature OF sta
are entitled to the very highest consider
e ton upon the part Of a Senator instruct
y in reference to any public question, 81
d Senator is not under any moral obligati
It or any other kind of obligation to foil