The record-union., 1896-03-21
of That Body,

WASHINGTON, March 20.-The SEN
ate Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions this morning made a favorable
report on the amendment to the Consti-
tuition providing for the election of
United States Senators by direct vote
of the people. The report is very
voluminous. Among other things it
says:
In the judgment of your committee,
any movement that looks to the right
of the people to be heard directly in
the election of Senators cannot but re-
suit beneficially to all concerned. The
adoption of this proposed amendment
will, in the judgment of your commit
tee, bring the Senate into more amicable
relations with the people. 1t will re-
lieve prejudices now existing, which
are becoming deeply and dangerously
fastened upon the public mind. 1t will
invoke a spirit of mutual forbearance
and respect as between the Senate and
the people, which unfortunately does
not exist to that degree that is desira-
BILE.
1T will restore confidence. 1t will
tend to elevate the character. advance
the dignity, increase the usefulness,
extend the influence and justly magnify
the power of the Senate, and at the
same time promote the welfare of all
the people of the republic. The ten
dency Of public opinion is to discourage
the Senate and depreciate it's dignity,
its usefulness, it's integrity, its power.
If there is any cause for this tendency
in the public mind, it should be re-
lieved without delay.
One weighty and personal objection
to the present system of electing Sena-
tors by the Legislatures of the respective
States, the report continues, SIS that the
power and right of the individual voter
are hedged about and circumscribed; !;
his will is manacled; his volition para
lyzed; he cannot vote for his choice.
The present system is in practice, pur-
pose and effect a declaration that for
some occult reason, which is in no way
made manifest, it is unsafe and preju-
dical to the public interests to commit
the election of Senators to the vote of
the people"
The committee points out that the
material interests of the States suffer
by reason of the protracted Senatorial
contests that are of such frequent oc-
NoAb AholdllCCS Ill 1NGW OIh, oIG-
gon, Washington, Montana, Idaho,
Wyoming and Kentucky are cited.
Public opinion has, the committee
says, taken hold of the subject, and
the demand for this change is loud and
emphatic. The belief in the public
mind is rapidly gaining that proper
Difference is not given by the Senate of
the United States to the demands Of the
people, and that it is largely due to the
fact that Senators do not owe their po-
sitions to the people, who are perma-
nent, but to the Legislatures, who are
transient.
In conclusion, the committee SAYS:
The people demand a voice in the cleo
ton of Senators, and such demand in
the judgment of your committee should
be respected. So whatever may be
said to the contrary, whatever may be
thought of the Sanctity of the Consti-
tuition as it stands, it must be admitted
by all that the people are becoming
restive under it's restraints on the right
of those entitled under the Constitu-
tion and laws to exercise the elective
franchise. The movement of the people
in the interest of the people on this. as
on many other questions, is stalWart
and universal, and the sooner this great
fact is recognized by the representa-
tives of the people the BETTER