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

The House Of Re9resentatives adopted
yesterday joint resolution which proposes
the submission to the State Legislatures
of an amendment to the Constitution PRO
viding for the election OF United States
Senators by a uirect vote OF the people.
The resolution prevailed by vote Of 2io
to l5. those members voting in the nega-
tive being:
Messrs. Allen OF Maine Burleigh of
Maine. Cslderhead Of Kansas. Fordney OF
Michigan. Gardner OF New Jersey. Hedge Of
Iowa. Henry Of Connecticut. Lane Of Iowa,
Lester Of Georgia Littleheld 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 Serste and House of Reprr-
s.utativcs If the nitcd states of AmerlCa lh
Congress assembled ttUo-thirds OF each h2l-t
t,onoiirriug fhereiul. That IN lieu OF the hIs'
ls4agrspi Of section 3 OF Article Of the '"n-il
4llffau af the United States. and ln heu ui SO
much ol paragraph of the same section as o.
lstes TO the filing ~ vacancies, the folio" ing 'e
proposed as an amendment TO The Constitution.
which shall be valid TO ail Irtenis and purposes
as . part Of the Constitution when ratified bl the
lapi.larrlfes Of thrrt-fo h. Of the State
The senate Of the United States shIl De- com
posed of two senators from each state, VINO -lti
be elected 10y direct vote Of the people mere +, y
for . term Of siN wears. and each senator ~4li''
have uur vote. 4 plurality Of the votes cast i'I
candidates for senator shall be sufficient 90 ee,i
TIE rlectors in each State shall have THE qnsth-
cation. requisite tor elections Of the most nuileF
ls raf..b n the STATE IegislatuTes, Cttvei'
.'When vacancy happens, 10y death, resigha-
tirn or otherwise. in the representation el any
STATE in the senate. the shall be filled Tor
aaaHH FtafHHr If
q, Is provided for the election Of senators ~ par
agrsph l. provided that the executive thereof may
make temporary appointment until the next gen
eral or special election, in accordance Win tae
statutes 0f constitution Of sucA state
This amendment shall not De- So construed as o.
affect the election or terl1 of any senator chosen
before it becomes valid ss part OF The toasiitu-
tien.
This resolution is a substitute offered
by Mr. Rncker 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
an- State. either through their Legislature
OF BY the constitution OF the state, snail
urevide for the election cf United states
Senstors hy direct vote Of the people
then. in such case. United States Senators
shall be elected 10 such State at large by
direct vote OF the people; plurality
shall elect and the electors shall have
50 Tnr FAa
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 RucEer.
Braezeale. Brosius. GrosvenOr. Williams
OF Mississippi Neville. Powers. kiuttz,
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 10 Congress
Nofr raerrcria lfsts. TIE it.i,lafrTr Assembly n
Sic state of Montana. respectfully represent l.t.
We believe there D. general desire upon DO" par
oi tie legal voter, ui rls SKATE ni Montana f.-ai
United States SENATOR should be elected hy d
diraat vote 81 the people. snd t.st the tr,iI Ial
of United State Senatar- by Tire Legislative A.
senrhlr. under the present provisions Of the Con
siirution and lave Of the niied >tate-. retar,'
and d.ls1. the business 81 the sessions seriously
Therefore your memorialists respectfully requer
yau io take sllch steps may he necessary io %
cure such amendments % the Constitution am
law OF the United State Viii provide flr th
election of United States SeIstors ht diret'
vote of the people and urge our >enstors au'
ReTlrrseHtatives ia taugre>s tn use their best ei
siesvurr to secure such amendment.
The Legislatures Of other States which
have formally expressed their desire tha
The Constitution shall be amended as in
dicsred are those OF Ohio. Pennsylvania
California Utah. Arkansas, Colorado. Flor
ada Idaho Indiana Illinois, Iowa. Kansas
Kentucky. Louisiana Michigan. Minnesota
Mississippi Nebraska. Nevada. New HamT
shire North Carolina North Dakota
Oregon. Washington. Wisconsin. an
Wyoming
4 resolution similar TO that adopted yes
terdsy was passed by the House during IN
Forty-ninth. Fiftv-second. Fifty-third. an
Fifty-ffth Congresses. In the Fifty
Congress the direct vote proposition pre-
vailed by yeas. lS5; nays A.
Thc-e resolutions have always died iu Oh
Senate. Among the Senators who have eN