New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-21
CHOICE OF SENATOR'S
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
PROPOSED.
TIE MEASURE FAvoRABLY REPORTED BY lhh
SENATE COMMITTEE on PRIVILEGES

TUE urAsJ-RE FAVORABLY REPORIEp ID i
SENATE COMMITTEE on PRIVILEGES
AND ELECTIONS.
u,.,,or March 2O-Tn the Senate to-day Mr..
v,,che,I U,ep Ore) chairman Of the Commt'eo
on Privileges and Elections. reported JOINT 'e,o
Iution for the election of United states oehAo' "
direct vote Of the people. and gave notice INA, e
would move to have it taken up ana cohs'ue'eu "'
soon al possible Mr.
AS one Of the minority OF the coinhii''e'
Chandler (F,ep.. ~ H. said II give NOTICE 'na'
the motion or the senator Ho'' e
orous.y opposed 49,
Mr. GRAY Dem, DELI, another member OF the
committee said that the Views of the minority
would be prepared and submitted to the Senate
The report is In part as follows
In the judgment. Of your r, M be people to be
heard directly In the election oil SENATORS H. oa adnD
but result benecaly to al yi in the udg
ment of YOUR committee, bring the Senate INTO non
amcabe relations With me peopse "a pd:v becoming
deeply and dangerously fastened upon we rp'a. ~
mind. 1t will invoke splrl' , %, SENATE and the
people which unfortunately does not now eA nora
that degree that Is desirable; IL ,b WIN ba5acter al
vanc. the dignity. Increase the srluiirss, 20, ,na
the influence and justly magnify tne Se welfare
OF ali the people of the Republic Inc ,enae ny
Of public opinion t. TO dSpafags sne its integrity
its power n there Is any cause for this tendency
in the public mind 1t should be removed "'"o"'
Although the Senate of the United States should s
most me- an important IN E, legislative BODY in the world the
tendency public Journalism ana IN me, me PH I im
portance. minimize Its dignity and power, ana cas-.
the spirit OF oboauy over and around u ana us
that the impression which leads 10 all this IL 70
very great extent at least not wei ioundsd yer I"
IA a fact tina, cannot be ignored that It exists.
one weghty and principal objection TO the pres
cnt system of electing Senator's by the
of the Individual voter hedged about and cir
cumscrlbed. his will Is manacled. his voluon par
s sanno,. IN fact. vote directly at all but
must content himself with casting vote Tor mem mem
errs res his wishes in the vote they
for Senator 1t carries with II the in@lica'ion tna
some reason unit for the fui exercise Of the eec-
franchise. except In Qualified ana IarSsS re-
strIcted sense. The present system ~ IN practce'
purpose and effect a declaration that for some oc-
cult reason which Is in no way made manifest II Is
unsafe and prejudcia to the public Interests ,, TO
commit the election of Senator'S to vote OF the
people
The committee points out that the material inter-
ests OF the State suffer by reason Of protracted
Senatorial contests. which are OF frequent occur
renee Instances in New-York. oregon Washing
ton Montana Idaho Wyoming and Kentucky are
cited. and the report continues
But another vital objection to the election OF
Senators by the Legislature and In favor Oh ne
Frequently il 1t true that in the selection OF mem
bers of a State Legislature AZ time when such
Leg stature has one OF It's duties the election OF
a Senator every consideration is lost sght or eX.
cent the solitary az TO now candidates, IL
elected will vote on the question of the Senator.
shin The qualifications for the business or general
legislation or the views he entertains with reference
10 the great material interests OF the state are
wholly lost sight or
Popular opinion has, the committee says. taken
hold OF the subject and the demand for this change
Is loud and emphatic. The belief Is rapidly grow
ing In the public mind that proper Difference Is not
given by the Senate Of the United States TO the de-
mands and interests OF the people, and that Is large
,y due to the fact that Senators do not owe their
positions to the people who are permanent, but to
the Legislatures which are transient. In closing
the committee says:
The people demand a voice in the election or
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 sancity Of the Constitution as II stands. 1t
must be admitted by all that the people are becom-
ING restve under Its restraints the right OF those
entitled under the Constitution and laws to exercise
the elective franchise The movement OF the peo-
pie in the interest Of the people this as on many
other questions. is stalwart and universal and the
sooner this great fact Is recognized by the repre-
sentatives OF the people the better.