The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-04-09

Texas. lumber msn1facturer, has,
after careful research and study,
expressed his views at length in
the Orange Leader, regarding the
aualifi cations of a United States
senator and the manner in which
he should be elected. Sir. Lutcher
thinks the senators should be elect
ed by direct vote OF the people,
fixes the time for holding the po-
stion at not less than sixteen years,
and making such officer ineligible
to second term. No person who
is uuder 40 or more th,n so years
of age shall be eligible, and be
must have been born in the United
States. Mr.. Lutcber makes the
following original and excellent,
but sad to say, utopian suggestions:
"All aspirants for such nomira-
ton shall. prior 10 making an an
of such intention, pro-
coed TO the capital OF the state
wherein they may reside on 8
day fixed By the legislature of such
state not less than twenty days
prior to holding OF such primary,
and present themselves to the
chief justice OF such state, and then
and there each aspirant shall swear
or afirm that be will go before the
voters of his state solely upon his
merits as public servant, and not
upon any political issue, or issues
that may nave been, that are at
that time. or that shall in the future
come before the district, state or
nation, and that if elected he will
not lntermingle in politics at any
future election 10 any county, dis
trict, or state; furthermore be shall
swear or affirm, that If elected, he
will renounce bis allegiance to all
political parties or affiliations with
them, and that he will devote the
remainder of his life to the best in>
terests OF the whole nation, to the
enforcement of the laws of the
government, and to the perpetual
ton of the Cnion.'
Mr.. Lutcher believes that merit
and patriotism should be literally
rewarded, and suggests the follow
ing compensation for senators,
which will make the populists Of
the country stare in open-eyed hor.
hor:
"Hls compensation shall be $15,-
600 per annum while in office; Nc
senator shall be eligible to els,.,,oou
Tor a-sef nd term, nut after haviuo
>aso me. MS rs tSii ssii ss years be
oe retired on half pay, to say
Il, 500 per annum for the remain.
der OF his lite, and upon his death
his widow, should his wife surviy,
him. should receive $500 per an
mum during the remainder of hel
life, and each of his surviving chill
dren shall receive iD addition The
sum OF $500 per annum until the,
die or reach the age of twenty"
After the expiration of their tern
OF Office, the evening of the old ag
of the faithful senators is rosil,
pictured by Mr.. Lutcher in thu
following Roman-like language:
"The retired senators would
probably spend their declinin.
days beneath the shadow of th,
dome of the capitol, and it W err
meet that ii should be so. The,
would thus form a college of living
experienced lawmakers, hos
schooled in statecraft, body o
venerable patriots ready to rebuk
a fault or 10 praise worth, at tn,
feet OF the purest and ablest O
whom the newly-elected congress
men and recently. arrived senator,
might sit and drink 10 the histor1
and experience of the past, ant
from whose accumulated wisdom
and bright example gain strength
and purity, from their knowledge
OF international complications dis.
cover methods that would enabl.
the government to steer the ship o
state clear of the shoals and break
ers towards which thoughtful mel
now feel We are drifting
Mr.. Lutcher's article is uniq ne
interesting and instructive, but
chimerical for the times, as hi:
ideas are many years in advance o.
the present age.