The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-21
THE PEOPLE TO ELECT
lha Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections Relative To EIeCtIng Senators.
WILL REMOVE PREJUDlCES NOW EXISTING
Fhc Movcmenf of the People IX Stnl.
"nrf and Uuivcranl nud the sooner
This Grcnt Fact ~ Recognized by
fhe Representatives OF tho People
the hcttcr-A yoIuniinous Report.

washington. ID. c., March 20.-The
senate Committee on PRIVILEGES and
i-ieclions thls morning made IL favorable
icPofl on the amendment TO the CouS,i-
tuition providing for the election or
uhited States Senators by the direct
vote Of the people
ne report is very volumlnous. hn,ur. ~
other things. Il snys:
IN 'he Judgment or your committee.
my movement that looks to the right
the election OF Senators cannot Int
aesui, peneiiclnlly To all concerned The
'uoplioh or This proposed amendment
VII vi the Judgment OF your commit
zee prins the Senate into more umIca
pie relations with the people. II viii
remove prejudices now existing, whicl,
are ranidly becoming deeply and dan.
scrousiy fastened upon the pul,ic min,
~ VIII invoke spirit of mutu.u rnr
nearancc ana patience, as between The
SENATE ana The people, which upro,,u
nately does not now exist To lin, do
gree that Is desirable 1t will .cstnro
conHuehce. II will tend TO elevate th,,
character. advance the dignity, increase
the usefulness, extend the inliuc,c.. nn,,
justly magnify the power of the Snpn,,
ana AT the same time prutnote the
welfare Of all the people of the Re
puhlic. The tendency of public opiu-
ION Is 10 disparage the Senate ana 10
prcciate It's dignity. its usefulness. It's
integrity, It's power. If there ~ an,.
% %e"uSe ior inns tendency In III, rubllr
mlnu IL should be removed without do
iay. Although the Senate should he
ana In Tact is. the most disniGed, MS
"fi as the most important legisiu-
i've body In the world. Is In q large do
tIec 10 detract from It's impurtancr.
minimize Its dignity and power and cast
inc spirit OF obloquy over and around
~ anu It's members. While Your cnni-
mittee are OF the opinion that the i'm
preston which leads to all this is 10 q
very great extent at least not well
louhded yet II is "a fact that cannot no
ignored that II exists.
One weighty and principal obiec,Ior
10 Tic present system If elcctiny :, nm
tors by the legislatures OF the +, spcc,ive
states. the report continues, ''is thut
ihe power and right OF the individual
V"t,r are hcdsed about ana circuin-
scrihed. his VIII Is manacleJ. his vo!i-
ton raralyzcd. lie cannot vote for nj;
choice
He cannot. in fact. vote directly nj
All but must content himself with cast
inG vote for members of the LcEisla
tUre VINO may, or may not promptly
represent his wishes IN the vote they
Il inc implication that the people, the
qnaliled voters of State. are for
some reason. unfit in uualined and
some reason. unfit for the full exercise
OF the elective franchise. except in
qnahfcd and largely restricted sense
The present system Is in Dracticc, pure
and effective declaration that for
some occul, reason. which Is In no way
made manifest. II IL unsafe and pre-
judicial 10 the public interest to com
nit tbs election of Senators 10 a vote
of the people"
The committee points out that the
material interests of the State suffer
by reason of protracted Senatorial CON
tests that are of frequent occurrence
Instances in New York. Oregon, Wash
ington. Montana. Idaho. Wyoming and
Kentucky are cited.
The recent contest before the Legls-
laturc OF the State of Delaware says
the report. is fresh in the public mind,
resulting In the claim now pending
while the daily reports of the intermina-
bic contest in the Legislature in the
State Of Kentucky. with no resul; after
many weary months OF frui,lesS bal
loting. adds strength 10 the PROPOSE
tion of your committee"
Continuing OH this line. the report
says:
election Of Senators by the legisla-
tion and in favor of the proposed
change. must be apparent 10 you. How
frequent is it true that the selection
of the members of State Legisla turc.
at time when such Legislatures shall
perform the duty of selecting United
States Senator. every condition 1t lost
sight except of the solitary one as to
how candidates. If elected. VIII vote on
the question OF the Senatorship The
question as 10 the candidates qual!fica-
tions for the business OF general leg
islation or the views he entertains with
reference TO the great material inter
es,s OF the State are wholly lost sight
Of"
In conclusion the committee says:
1.-The people demand voice in the
election Of Senators and such demand
In the judgment OF your comn.gttec
should be respected SO. whatever may
be said TO the contrary whatever may
be thought OF the sanctitv OF the con-
stitu,ion as IL stands. 1t must be adj
nst;cd by all that he people are be-
coming rcstive under It's restraints on
Uhe right OF those entitled under the
constitution and laws to exercise the
elective franchise. The movement OF
the people on this. as on many other
questions. Is stalwart and universal and
nized by the representatives Of the
people the better"
Newest Discovery'-Ext. teeth; no
pSsn. N. Y. d. Rooms. Ennis, 162 Mats