The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-14

The House of Representatives adopted
yesterday joint resolution which proposes
the submission to the State Legislatures
of an amendment to the Constitution Fro
yidlng for the election of United States
Senators by Girect vote of the people.
The resolution prevailed by a vote of 2ie
to Is. those members voting in the nega-
tive being;
Messrs. Allen of Maine Burleigh Of
Maine. Calderhead of Kansas. Fordney Of
Michigan. Gardner OF New Jersey. Hedge of
Iowa. Henry of Connecticut. Lane of Iowa,
Lester of Georgia. Littlefeld of Maine. Nc
Pherson of Iowa. Mann of Illinois. Russell
of Connecticut. Sperry OF Connecticut. and
Thomas of Iowa.
The resolution follows:
Resolved by the Serate and House Of Repre-
seutatives OF the United States OF America II
Congress assembled Gwo-thirds of each House
concurrins flereinl, That in lieu OF the hrs'
paragraph Of section Of Article of The 'on-tl-
tuition Of the United States, and in lien Of 80
much OF paragraph of the same section as re
lstes to the filing Of vacancies the following be
proposed as amendment TO the Constitution.
which shall be valid to all intents and purposes
as a part Of the Constitution when ratified by the
Legislatures Of three-fourths of the State:
''The Senate Of the United States shall be com
posed of two Senators from each State, who snail
lie elected 10y direct vote of the people thereof
for a term Of six years, and each Senator SHAH
have ONE vote. plurality of the votes cast for
candidates for Senator shall be sufficient 10 elect
The electors in each State shall have the qualih-
cations requisite for electors of the most nniner
Gus branch ot the State Legislatures, respectively.
when vacancy happens, by death. resgna-
ton or otherwise. in the representation OF any
State in the Senate, the same shall be filled ior
the uneNpired term thereof in the same manner
is provided for the election of Senators IN par
agrapb l. provided that the executive :hereo ma!
make temporary appointment until the next gen
eTal or special election. in accordance with the
statutes of constitution Of s"~h State.
This amendment shall no. construed as to
affect the election or term of any Senator chosen
before it becomes valid a part of the CoHstitu-
ten.
This resolution is 1, substitute offered
by Mr.. Rucker On behalf of the minority
of the Committee on Election of the Presi-
dent, Vice President. and Representatives,
for one offered by Mr. Corliss on The part
of the majority of the committee.
The Original Resolution
The majority resolution provided that
"the Senate of the United States shall
be composed of two Senators from each
State, chosen for six years. and each
Senator shall have one vote. These Sena-
tors shall be chosen by the Legislatures
of the several States unless the people of
any State. either through their Legislature
or by the constitution of the State. shall
provide for the election of United States
Senators by direct vote of the people;
then. in such case. United States Senators
shall be elected In such State at large by
direct vote of the people; plurality
shall elect and the electors shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors OF
the most numerous branch OF the State
Legislature.
The original resolution would give to the
people of each State the right of deter
mining the methods to be followed in
choosing Senators in their State, while the
substitute provides that Senators shall be
elected by direct vote
The vote was preceded by very little
discussion. that having practically closed
on Thursday. being participated in by
Messrs. Corliss. Clark of Missouri. Rucker.
BraezeaIe. Brosius, Grosvenor Williams
of Mississippi. Neville. Powers. kluttz,
Ryan. Lloyd Ridgely. Mcdowell. Robb, and
Jones of Virginia. The people in thirty
different States have. il is said, in one
form or another. expressed their wish with
reference TO this amendment. The Legis-
lature of Montana has transmitted the
following memorial TO Congress;
Your memorialists the Legislative Assembly Of
HE af Montana, respectfully represent tiiAt
we believe there j. general desire upon the part
OF the legal voters OF the state of Montana that
nited States Senators should be elected by
direct vote of the people snd that the election
of United Stafes Senator'S ny the Legislative A.
senbly. under the present provisions Of the Con
stirution and laws Of the nited States. retards
and delays the business of the sessions seriously
Therefore your memorialists respectfully request
YOU 20 take slich steps may be necessary Ia se-
cure such amendments the Constitution and
lave of the United States as will provide for the
election of United States Senators by direct
vote Of the people. and urge Senators anu
Representatives IL Congress 10 their best Ell
siesyors 10 secure such amendments
The Legislatures of other States which
have formally expressed their desire that
the Constitution shall be amended as in
dictated are those OF Ohio, Pennsylvania.
California. Utah. Arkansas, Colorado. Flor
sda. Idaho, Indiana. Illinois, Iowa. Kansas.
Kentucky, Louisiana. Michigan, Minnesota.
Mississippi Nebraska. Nevada. New Hamp-
shire. North Carolina. North Dakota.
Oregon. Washington, Wisconsin, and
Wyoming.
A resolution similar to that adopted yes
ferdsy was passed by the House during the
Forty ninth. Fifty-second. Fifty third, and
Fifty-f fifth Congresses. In the Fiftyhfth
Congress the direct vote proposition pre-
vailed by yeas 1885, nays. H.
These resolutions have always died in the
Senate. Among the Senators who have eX