Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-28

ernor the right 10 appoint. we should
have been represented by a Republican
and thus the will Of the people sub
verted This Is one Of many reasons
which might be named The remedy
for II an Is to return 10 first principles
and have our senator's nominated as
our representatives. and elected by d.
rect vote OF the people
Frank McGurin, Utah Republican
Club-Goyernors should not have au-
thorlty 20 name senator's where legisla-
lures fail to do so. The selection OF
senators is already too far removed
from the people at large. To allow
governors Co appoint would be TO still
further remove Il. l am In favor OF
the election Of senators by direct vote
Of the people. They are as capable OF
selecting a senator as president
The corruption and bribery under the
present system form a sufficient rea-
son for change. To give governors
the appointing power would increase
the number Of Instances where legisla-
lures would fall TO elect, minimize still
more the viii of the people, and put adj
diiitHai power into Jlc hanlR of p0llti-
cal machines and rings
Fire Chief Deyina--I consider this
N
Of which is rendered more apparent
every year. and the solution Of which
can only come through the election OF
United states senators directly By the
vote Of the people. II would seem as
though the people Of "a state should not
90 unrepresented In the chief council
of the nation on account Of the political
impOtenCy OF any party or faction.
IhlIr VaNraUa TRUuapmuufIN rufa
come through granting 20 the chief cx-
ecutive Of the State. who holds his posi-
ton by the popular VIII, the right 20
an the vacancy
Judge + y. Colburn-'It Is a legal
question. ] have not given q sufficient
consideration 10 enable me co express
an opinion.
Prof. j. H. Paul-The action OF the
Senate. In refusing q seat 20 eX-Sena-
tor Quay. acc0rds with my view OF the
constitutional aspect OF the question.
Mr.. Quay was not a senator. for he was
not elected 90 that office. The COnstitu-
ton SAYS. "The Senate shall be COM
posed Of two senators from each state.
chosen by the legislature thereof. for
six years This Is what the Constitu-
ton says. and Is all Il says. as 10 who
shall choose the Senators, nowhere does
IL say or even hint that the governor
may appoint them IN case the legisla-
ture shall fail % elect, IL vacancies oc-
cur In the House eof Representatives.
the governor Is authorized only 20 "is-
sue wrlts OF election 20 ON such yacan-
ciesi' that Is. he shall provide To- a
special election. and the people the
electors designated IN the Constitution.
shall proceed 90 elect q Representative.
ln no case Is there any indication that
the governor should take the place Of
the electors named boy the supreme law.
But the further question. should not the
governor be authorized 90 appoint a
senator II the legislature should fail 20
elect? / should also answer In the neg
alive.
II 70 IS so serious an evil that any
State should Tor "a time be without It's
complete representation IN the Senate.
there are many ways OF providing an
adequate remedy without adopting the
non-Amerlcan method OF putting into
the hands Of one man. the power 20
name the members OF the highest
branch Of the greatest law-maklng body
on the earth Some Of those ways are:
90 The Constitution could be so amend
ed as TO compel the legislature 20 make
a choice by dropping candidates hav-
Ing the lowest vote, after so many days
of ballotlng; or (0 by making the office
of senator directly elective; or CD by
the governors calling extra sessions Of
the legislature. etc.
Judge II 2. Henderson: Under the
Constitution the question as 10 whether
a senator might be appointed by the |
governor On case the legislature falls |
10 elect. or whether his right 20 appoint |
should bee restricted 20 cases where an
election has been had and q vacancy |
occurs. IS a question that might fairly |
have been decided either way, and be- |
Ing a doubtful question, the next best |
thing Is 90 have d ruleNl certain one. |
Therefore I think that the precedent |
should govern. All OF the late prece- |
dents al least are against the right OF |
the governor 90 appoint Some Of the /
earlier presidents were the other way, /
as ! understand o.. although have not |
that myself But ln a /
large number OF recent cases the right |
has been denied and think they should |
be- followed.
The Senate OF the United States Is the |
highest deliberative body IN our gov /
eminent aud such n question as this /
ought not 90 be determined by mere |
personal or party prejudice or predHec-
ton. Vacnlating decisions on such /
grounds weaken the confidence and re-
spect OF the people On our institutions. /
n the Constitution On this respect as
Is not right let Il be- amend
eli
Hon. Fred J. Leonard-Provlded the
law should recognize such O. vacancy.
and the Senate ehould recognize the
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