The times., 1899-01-18
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY IS, 1899.
The United states senate.

The United states SENATE.
The election of United States Senators by
the State Legislatures was intended to pre-
serve the sovereignty of the States and
TO insure the choice of high order oi
statesmen to stand between the popular
Representatives in the House and hasy
and ill-advised legislation. 1t was sup
posed that State Legislators, being the best
men of their respective districts, would be
more competent to determine the qualities
of aspirants than the common people and
would insist on qualifications which an ig-
norant populace might be willing 10 waive;
that this system would prevent the selec-
tion of demagogues with temporary pop
ularity and Of men Who might resort 10
corrupt methods to gain votes.
The scheme has failed. For long time
there has been no obvious or recognized
superiority in the craftsmanship Of the
Senate over that OF the House Of Repre-
sentatives any more than there has been
in the English House of Lords over the
Commons. The Senate has not maintained
It's standing as an obstruction 10 vicious
legislation, but often has appeared to be
more reckless and inconsiderate than the
OlntF mouse. mere nav tNIh oSNA SNr7
gestions that il should be abolished as su-
perfiuous or worse. The average Senator
is not notably more able and more scrupu-
Ious than the average Representative, and
for years senatorial contests have not been
conspicuously free from suspicion and
even charges OF bribery.
At this moment there are several State
Legislatures engaged in efforts TO choose
Senators amid surroundings which are at
solutely disgraceful In California there is
a frankness in the use OF money 10 obtain
votes that has given rise TO no little pride
on the part of Coast politicians. Before
the Legislature of that State was organ
lied a loyaI Californian boasted that
ii would be run on an uneommonly
high plane and that he should not
be surprised II votes brought as much
as five thousand dollars each. 1t appears
that he placed too high estimate on the
value of the members, but he was right
about there being no scrup!es and no Puri-
tanicaI cant in the business. As related in
the dispatches from San Francisco. the
Speaker of the Assembly is q man Of pune
tilious honor He publicly announced that
he had accepted money for his vote from
the manager OF Mr. [. :. Grant. but that
finding il expedient to vote FOR another
candidate he would return the money 10
Mr.. Grant i'm few days. There is no
perfdy in this The sum paid in behalf Of
Mr. Grant was not large enough to hold
his man when the price Of votes went up.
The natural inference is that some other
candidate offered more than sixteen hun
dred dollars for the Speakers support and
That as soon as the money is Ia his hands
he will repay MIR. Grant. This is an open
transaction. The Speaker is willing the
world should know all about his life. He
Is naturally Indignant and incensed. there
fore. when San Francisco newspaper
charges him with corruption. and he has
instituted suit for libel for mputng i'm
proper motives TO him. Where is the
corruption" ," he asks. In effect. Il intend
ed TO vote for Mr.. Grant when ! took his
money, and not being able TO do that, or
finding it expedient 10 vote for another. |
return it. That's all there is TO ii and
challenge any man TO show an unworthy
motive on my part
In Pennsylvania a man under indictment
for the crime OF misusiug public funds fol
his own profit is a candidate for reelection
10 the Senate and has the support Of a ma
jority OF the Republican members Of the
Legislature This is the Hon. Matthew $
Quay and he may yet win.
In Delaware respectable Republican.
have been unable to shake of Addcks. III,
millionaire gas man. who has the caucu'
nomination but needs ten more votes to b,
n,,l.- h. fuil
and the fear OF state prison viii preven
his success is commonly believed.
But Republicans do not have a monopoly
Of the senatorial corruption business. II
Montana two Democratic millionaires ar,
spending money freely in bitter con
test and from this distance it appears tC
be simply question as to which can ap-
ply she largest fund in the best way
whether millionaire candidate will Wiz
or viii be defeated through the expendi-
lures of a millionaire enemy.
These are not the first instances Of cor
ruPtion in senatorial elections. but il il
apparent that the evil is growing. It be
comes an important question as 10 how
il shall be met and banished before i
becomes general. There is little hope tha
save in the most fragrant and obviou
cases the Senate Itself viii refuse TO sea
corruptionists. AS the number Of bough
seats increases. the hope diminishes. Tn
only cure that presents Itself is in tn
popular election Of Senators. The theor!
81 the present system does not work.
We are 20 retain the Senate and If il is I,
be free from members who owe thei
seats to bribery, their election must b
rclegated to the people. There is rarel
complaint that a Governor is the produc
of outright corruption and more rarel
that II is well founded. 1t would be eas
10 prove that in States where there is
large city. proportion of the State leg
islators will be, like some of the aldermen