The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-17
OF SENATOR'S.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
FOR POPULAR VOTE.
HOUSE ADOPTS THE RESOLUTION
By Almost Unanimous Vote - Only
Fourteen Against submitting Prop
osftion to the states Efforts to Get
Up N~icaraguan Canal Bill Private
Pension Day In House sharp At
tacks on Mr.. TaIbert for His Action
Regarding These Bills.

Z DhllS
Washington, April 13.-The house to-
day. by a vote of 24O to 10, adopted a
Iresolutional for a constitutional amend
limited States senators by direct vote
Iof the people. Fourteen republicans
land one democrat voted against il. By
the terms of the resolution the amend
Iment to be submitted 10 the legisla-
lures is as follows:
The senate of the United States
lshall be composed of two %enator from
leach state, who hall be elected by a
direct vote of the people thereof for a
term of six years, and each senator
shall have n vote. a plurality of the
Votes cast for candidates for senator
shall be sufficient to elect. The electors
i'm eac state shall have the qualifica-
ltions requisite for electors of the most
numerous branch of the state legisla-
lures, respectively.
When a happens, by death,
resignation, or otherwise. in the repre-
lsentation of any state in the senate, the
same shall be filled for the unexpired
term thereof in the same manner as is
provided for the election of senators in
paragraph one:
ovid that the executive thereof
may make temporary appointment I'M
It'll the next general or special election,
i'm accordance with the statutes or con-
IStitution of such state"
The remainder of the day was deyot-
ed to the consideration of private pen
sion bills. Several sharp attacks were
made upon Mr.. Talbert, democrat, of
South Carolina, for his course in delay
ing action upon bills.
There were two joint resolutions on
l. ~ n1nnffA - nnofn "hnn
the house adjourned yesterday. The
majority resolution of the committee
left it optional with the states whether
heir senators should be elected directly
or by the legislatures. The minority
resolution made it incumbent that each
lState elect by direct vote. The minor
lity resolution, which was offered as a
substitute, was voted upon first and
was carried by ar overwhelming vote
ayes. 1875; noes, 80.
Senator Corliss tried unavailingly to
get and y and nay vote, but only
mine members seconded the demand.
The vote was then taken upon the
adoption of the amendment, the whole
house rising in support of the demand.
The resolution was adopted-240 to 10.
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, asked unani-
NOUS consent to set aside May LIST for
the consideration of the Nicaragua
lcanal bill.
Il object" shouted Mr.. Burton, OF
lOhio, emphatically.
Mr.. Hepburn then took steps to over
come this opposition n a petition to
the committee on rules was prepared
requesting that body to fix a time fol-
taking up the canal bill. Mr.. Hepburn
circulated the petition on the republi-
can side and up to the time of a
ljournment secured siXty-one sigma.
lures.
Mr.. Adamson, who circulated the pc
-. 4s4 Id -of1
There is no opposition whatever or
this side, and every m present today
has signed the petition. The number
exceeds sixty"
Notwithstanding these efforts it wa:
intimated pretty strongly in well-in.
formed quarters hat the committee OF
rules was not likely to bring in a spe.
Icial rule. The members of the com
mittee declined, however, to make any
definite statement on the subject.
Following Mr.. Buttons objection
the house proceeded with the regular
/. lorder-the consideration of privat'
lpension bills.
Mr.. Talbert, of South Carolina, sen
Ito the clerks desk and a read som,
letters from old soldiers in various
lparts of the country protesting agains
the special acts ground out by tn
congressional bureau"
One of them said the Die soldier
were very sore" Mr.. Talbert a tn
t~letters read were simply samples o
hundreds he had received.
Later On Mr.. Talbert. who was de
manding the reading of the report il
leach case and who several times mad
I points of no quorum, became involve,
| lin a controversy with Mr.. Shattuc, o
/, iOhio, who expressed the opinion tina
: Opposition to pensions came with ill
: lgrace from a former confederate sol
ldier.
Mr.. Sibley. of Pennsylvania, said
; simple calculation would show that
!, cost $36, COO a day for a session of tn
house or 81, 900 an hour. The time frit
tered away by Mr.. Talbert since h
Icame to congress-, he said, would NOR
than pay all the special pension bill
Ipassed during that period.
Mr.. Norton. of Ohio, proteste
/ Iagainst Mr.. Talbert's course. If h
found an unjust bill and could demon
: Istrate h it was unjust he Morton
r and many members o. the loo woul
join him in defeating it. He appeale
, Ito Mr.. Talbert to his opposi
ton.
| Mr.. Lamb, of Virginia, Joined in tn
5 Iappeal and his remarks drew forth
Iscathing denunciation from Mr.. Tai
!, bert. He said the trouble was tn
: gentleman from Virginia had claim
> before the house he desired to &c
!, Through. The same was T OF othe
gentlemen. IL was a log TOlllnS CON-
+ bine. They dared not fight these un
!, just pension bills as he was doing
!, When he went into he confederat
army, he said, he and his had stake
Everything and had lost it. They wer
mot passing the hat around now.
Mr.. Fordney, of Michigan, attacke
MIR. Talbert a little later.
He said that when Mr.. Talbert sal
he was a friend of the soldier he woul
lnot believe him on oath.
q Mr.. Talbert, with a great show o
wrath, replied that when the gentle
man imputed untruthfulness to him h
"hurled it back and crammed it dow
E his rotten throat" He grew so exclt
D ed that the chair was Obliged to ca
{ him to order.
= When quiet was restored, Mr.. Ford
:. lney raised a roar Of laughter by re
marking quietly: ST believe in tn
>. biblical promise that we shall be Dor
Iagain- 1 hope to God that when NJ
: lTalbert's time ONE he will be still
f born"
n The house favorably acted upon fifty
- tfHra4 hsll- =, z; 49, -4