The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-23
TO REFORM THE SENATE.

1t is the opinion of those who have sought
to ascertain the sense of the House of Rep
resentatives on the subject that propo-
sition TO change the method of electing
United States Senator's would pass that
body. The popular demand for making
Senators elective by the people is making
itself felt in the House, and there are in
dications also of growing irritability on
its part under the assumption of superior
dignity and wisdom on the part of the
Senate. One reason for this assumption is
that Senator's are chosen by the State Leg
islatures while Representatives are elected
by the people. and there is probably feel
ing in the House that If Senator'S were
elected by the people at least one ground
for the assumption Of superiority by the
Senate would be removed
1t was the intention and expectation OF
the trainers of the Constitution that the
Senate should be superior to the House in
ability. wisdom and craftsmanship. The
qualifications of a Senator are more exact
ing than those of a Representative. A
Representative need be only twenty-five
years old, and seven years a citizen of the
United States. while a Senator must be
thirty years old and nine years a citizen.
No doubt. also. it was the expectation of
the trainers of the Constitution that the
choice of Senators by the State Legisla-
lures would result in giving that body
higher average of ability than that of the
House. John Jay. in one OF the Federalist
papers. defending the election of Senators
by the State Legislature. said:
This mode has. in the case of Senator's
vastly the advantage of elections BY TIE
people In their elective CAPACITY: whore the
activity OF party zeal. taking advantage OF
hopes and fears Of the unwary and inter
ested, often places men in Office by the
votes OF a small proportion of the e,sctors.
As the State legislatures who appoint the
Senator's will in general. be composed of
the most enlightened and respectable CIT
liens. there Is reason to presume that their
to those men only who have become the
most distinguished by their abilities ami
virtue. and in whom the people perceive
just grounds for confidence
Hamilton. also, in one of the Federalist
papers, gave as one reason why the gem
eral government would probably be better
administered than the State governments,
that through the medium of the State
legislatures-which are select bodies of
men, and which are to appoint the mem
bers of the national Senate-there is reason
to expect that this branch will generally
be composed with peculiar care and judy
ment-" Other quotations from the writings
of the trainers of the Constitution might
be cited to show that they believed the
election of Senators by the various State
legislatures would give that body higher
character than the House would have. For
many years this expectation was fully YER
flied. but recently there has been a dis
tinct deterioration in the Senate and low
ering of the standard in that body as com
pared with the House. Whether this is
the fault of the State legislatures or of
the people who elect them is an open ques-
ton. 1t is by no means certain that the
character Of the Senate would be improved
pie. IL the people really wish to elevate
the character of the Senate they can do il
by elevating the character of the various
State legislatures. There are some indica-
tons that the people themselves are con-
siderably in need of reform.