Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20
THE ELECTION OF SENATORS
Report of the Senate Committee Recon-
mending a Constitutional Amendment
Reasons Why 1t Is Thought They
Should BE Elected Directly
by the People.

The Senate committee on privileges and
elections held meeting today for the pur-
rose of passing upon Senator Mitchelrs re-
port upon the election of Senators by direct
vote of the people. The report proved ac-
ceptable to majority of the committee.
The committee, says the report, has
approached the subject of the pro-
posed change in the method of elect
ing Senators with a full appreciation
of the gravity of the subject and
of the Importance of the public in
terests involved. The objections that are
raised to the proposed change are discuss
ed very fully. The amendment, it is held,
does not in the slightest degree trench
upon the system upon which our govern
ment is founded. The objection is not ten
able that any proposed change in the mode
of electing Senators can be properly re-
garded as an attempt to deprive the
states, respectively, as states, in their
sovereign or political capacity, of their
legal representation in the Senate. 1t pro-
poses change in the mode-only this and
nothing more-by which the states respect
lively and the people thereof shall choose
their representatives in the Senate.
Why, asks the report. are not the people,
the qualified electors of a state, the proper
mouthpiece of the state in the election of
senators? And if entitled to speak, then
why not directly and for themselves, and
legislatures? One weighty and principal
objection to the present system of elect
ing Senators, says the report is that the
power and right of the individual voter are
nedged about and circumScribed, his will
Is manacied, his yolition paralyzed; he can
not vote for his choice. 1t carries with it
the implication that the people. the quail
ned voters. are, for some reason, unfit for
the full exercise of the elective franchise,
Again, it is held that the proposed amend
nlent IS an enlargement OF the right of
suffrage on tire part of those entitled to
Its exercise under existing laws, and it
tends to render impossible the use of i'm
proper methods to influence senatorial cleo
tions. While it is possible that the induce
ments of wealthy and Inscriptions as
pirant for senatorial honors may reach
and influence the majority of a small body
IN tne legislature, such a thing would be
impossible were the decision left to the
great mass of voters.
Another unanswerable objection the COM
mittee finds to the present system of elect
ing Senators is the great length of time
frequently consumed in the election and
the consequent distraction of the leg;sla-
tive minds from, business-to say notfling 2
of the strife i'll feeling and contention that
TOO often follow in the wake CT such con-
tests Another vital objection to the pres
ent system IS that iii the election of the
members of the legislature. when such leg
'S!&ture has, as one of its duties, the
selection OF a Senator. is that every con-
s-deFatlon IS lost sight of except the soIi-
tary one OF how candidates, if elected will
vote ON the question of the senatorship
Puohc opinion. 1t IS argued, demands the
change proposed; the demand is Ioud and
emphatic; pronounced it is Imperative;
earnest, as it seems to be, almost unani-
nous, among the great masses of the peo-
pie.
The tendency of public opinion, the re-
port concludes, is to disparage the Senate
and depreciate its dignity, its usefulness.
It's integrity, its power. If there Is any
cause for this tendency in the public mind
y should DC removed without delay The
1doption of the amendment will remove
Hrejudices now existing. which are rapidly
becoming deeply and dangerously fasten-
Ad upon the public mind, win dissipate all
cause, excuse and prtext for unjust criti-
cisr,, and vii! tend to elevate the char
scter, advance the dignity and Increase
the usefulness of the Senate
The minority who oppose the proposition
Probably will file report later