The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-18
HARRIS ON ISSUES
Agrees With Governor Stanley
Concerning Elections.
Proposed Amendments to Fed
eral Constitution.
HAVE LONGER TERMS.
Would Have Congressman
Elected For Four Years.
HAVE LONGER TERMS.
Expansion as 1t Will Appear In
Legislative Halls.

United States Senator William A.
Harris will go to Washington about the
middle of September to prepare for the
work which he has in hand during the
next session of congress. Senator Har-
ris is a member of the pure food COM
mittee and one of the leaders on the
committee which is in charge of the
Nicaraugan canal
In the latter subject Senator Harris
is deeply interested. He regards the
construction of this canal as the most
important question of the present age
and says it would mean millions of dol
lars to the business interests of this
country were it completed.
"A number of eminent men have ad-
VOcated that this canal should be con-
Structed by private corporations but 1
am unalterably opposed to this plan"
said Senator Harris to a Journal re-
porter THE only right way to go at
this work is in my opinion for the gov
ernment to take charge of; construct
the canal and then operate it. With the
government in charge the construction
would be honest and after the canal is
completed it would be honestly man
aged
Mr.. Harris will introduce in the SEN
ate this winter a measure providing
for three important amendments to the
constitution of the United States, as
follows:
First-Making the term of office of
the president of the United States six
years.
Second-To elect United States sena-
tors by a direct vote of the people.
Third-Making the terms of congress-
men four years instead of two years.
Under our present system we have
too many elections" said Senator Har-
ris, the president of the United States.
should in my opinion, be elected for six
years and this election should disquaH-
fy him for second term.
The terms of congressman are now
hPCOmaS
familiar with his new duties until he is
compelled to hustle out among his
constituents and make a campaign for
a reelection. Then too, the uncertainty
of retaining the office may make some
men Indifferent as to their obligations
to the people. If the term was four
years a man would have time to famili-'
arize himself with the duties of his
position and be enabled to do far more
for his constituents than he is now able
to do in the short term of two years.
Il cannot conceive of any sound ar
gument against the proposition to have
the senators elected by a direct vote
of the people. 1t is acknowledged that
the people have this sovereign right of
ballot and it is only fair that it should
extend to all the officers who represent
the state either in congress or the Uni
ted States senate. Now the congress-
men are so elected and why should not
the same rule apply to the representa-
tiveS in the upper house.
THE senate may not act upon the
measure Wnlcn L Will present Dut L am
confident that this is the right way to
consider these propositions and I fully
believe that it is but a question of time
until these three plans are adopted"
Senator Harris anticipates that the
next session of the house and senate
will be interesting because of the pub
lie questions which will be pending. The
most important of these. he believes, is
that pertaining to the Philippines.
If we could get a full and fair dis
cuSsion and settlement of these prob
lens it would be fair but I resume the
discussion and the voting will be along
partisan lines, which if true will un-
doubtedly embarrass the question and
fail to reach the proper solution.
I regret that the United States has
paid Spain cent for the Philippines. I
was opposed to it and am now opposed
to any concessions to that country. I
was. and am now in favor of thraShing
Spain. I have always wanted to see
this job commenced and carried out in
this way. 1t was wrong to pay that
country cent. What we should have
done after licking the conceited Spanish
was to take possession of the country
under the control of that government
without giving up single cent of our
money!
Senator Harris hopes that the senate
will take up the Philippine question
fairly, keep it away from partisanship
and solve the problem in a just and
satisfactory manner.
Senator Harris makes a speech at
Hoxie tonight. August "A he goes to
Seneca. He has dates for several
speeches before returning to Washing
ton.