The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-21
SELECTION OF The SENATORS.
A REPORT IN FAVOR OF A DIRECT
VOTE BY THE PEOPLE.

The Senate Committee on privileges
and Elections Advocates the Pro-
posed Amendment TO the Constftu-
tion-The Popular Prejudice
Against the Upper House of Con-
gress as IL Exists To-day Recog-
nized.
Washington. March 20-The Senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections this
morning made a favorable report on the
amendment TO the constitution providing
for the election of United States senator's
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 the senators
cannot but result beneficially to all con-
cerned. The adoption of this proposed
amendment viii. in the judgment OF your
committee. bring the Senate into more
amicable relations with the people. 1t
Will remove prejudices now existing which
are rapidly becoming deeply and danger
ously fastened upon the public mind. IL
Will invoke a spirit of mutual forebear-
ance and respect as between the Senate
and the people, which. unfortunately, does
not now exist to that degree that is de-
sirable 1t will restore confidence. 1t
VIII tend TO elevate the character ad-
vance the dignity, Increase the usefulness
ate and at the same time promote the
weltare OF all the people OF the republic.
The tendency OF public opinion is to
dignity, It's usefulness its integrity. 10
power If there is any cause for this
ten1eney ssnSoyey IN the public mind Il should be
Senate of the United States should be.
and in fact, is the most dignifled as well
as the most important legislative body IN
the world, the tendency in the public
journals and I'm the popular mind IS In a
large degree to detract from its import
ance, minimize its dignity and power ana
cast the spirit obloquy over and around
IL and its members. While your conn
mittee are OF the opinion that the impress
SION which leads to all this Is to very
great extent, at least, not well founded,
yet u Is a fact that cannot be ignored
"One weighty and principal objection to
the present system OF electing senators by
the legislatures of the respective states"
and right of the individual voter are
ieuBeu ABOUT ana clrcumscribed, his will
Is maInacled, his voiition paraiyzed; he
cannot vote for his choice. He cannot In
fact, vote directly at all, but must con-
tent himself with casting a vote for men1-
Der Dets OF the legislature who may or may
vote they may cast for senator. 1t car
ries with II the Implication that the peo-
FOR some reason, unit for the fuil eyer.
else OF their elective franchise, except in
a qualified and largely restricted sense
Inc present system Is in practice, purpose
and effect a declaration that for some oc-
CUT reason, which Is in no way made
ma manifest, u Is unsafe, and prejudieial to
the public interests to commit the election
or senators to a vote OF the people,"
Ihe committee points out that the mate-
rial interests Of the state suffer by reason
OF the protracted senatorial contests
that are of frequent occurrence. In
stances in New York, Oregon, Washing
ton, Montana, Idaho Wyoming and Ken
ha-
fore the legislature of the state of Della
ware" says the report, is fresh in the
public mind, resulting in the claim now
pending of Mr.. Dupont, to a seat in the
senate, while the daily reports of the in
terminable contest in the legislature or
the state OF Kentucky with no results
after many weary months OF fruitless
balloting adds strength to the PROPOSE
ton OF your committee"
Continuing on this line, the report saws:
But another vital objection 10 the cleo
tion OF senators by the legislature and
IN y, favor OF the the change proposed must be
that in the selection of members OF a
state legislature at a time when such leg
islature has as one of its duties the elec-
ton OF a senator every consideration il
lost sight of except the one as TO how
candidates, If elected, will vote on the
question for senator The question as to
the candidates qualifications for the bus
mess OF legislation, or the views he en-
tertains with reference to the great ma
terlal interests OF the state are wholly
Popular opinion has, the committee saws.
taken hold Of the subject and the demand
for this change Is loud and emphatic The
belief in the public mind is rapidly gain
ing that proper difference is not given by
the Senate Of the United States to the de-
mand and interests of the people, and
that 1t is largely due to the fact that SEN.
ators do not owe their position to the
people, who are permanent, but to the leg
islatures which are transient.
In conclusion, the COMMITTEES SAYS: 'rhs
people demand a voice in the election Of
senators, and such demand in the Judge
ment of your committee should be respect
ed. 50, whatever may be said to the con-
trary, whatever may be thought OF the
sanctity of the constitution as 1t stands
1t must be admitted by all that the people
and becoming restive under its restraints
on the rights of those entitled under tina
cons ttution and laws to exercise the cleo
tive franchise. The movement of the peo-
pie IN the interest of the people in this.
as on many other questions, Is stalwart
and universal, and the sooner this great
fact is recognized by the representatives
of the people the better"
ErE, II