The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-01-04
THE HOoLsEY REOuEST


Woolsey, which has now become
available, is the opening of an era for
better roads in Hartford county. The
erroneous impression which has ex-
listed for some time that the county
was compelled to expend the same
amount of money that the estate
provided, has caused some opposi-
ton to the acceptance of the will. A
careful perusal of the synopsis which
We publish elsewhere shows that this
is not the case. The money is to be
paid the commissioners whenever the
work of macadamizing is done in a
manner satisfactory to the trustees.
The latest Information on the sclen-
tific building of stone roads shows
that they can be constructed for
about twenty-five hundred dollars a
mile-at least that is what Expert
Harrison, of the Government road
department says, so if we take the
ChuTchvilIe road where three thous-
and dollars has already been spent it
would not require much more than
the ten thousand dollars which Mr..
Woolsey's will provides to finish the
work, and the same may be said of
the other roads.
Now is the chance to show that we
are a progressive county. II one good
turn deserves another, the same ought
to hold good for public roads and if
these roads are improved, the pro-
gressive spirit will spread throughout
the county and we will have drive
ways that will not only reflect credit to
the county but add materially to her
wealth.
1t will not require much more money
to make a large part Of the estate
available for county uses and we feel
sure that the trustees under the will
liberal men that they are-will not
require the work to be done like Bel.
gian paving but will construe the in
tention of the giver literally and aid
all in their power to furnish Hartford
county all the help they can in the
way of better public roads.
LET THE PEOPLE ELECT SENA-
TORS.
The Times earnestly urges three
amendments to the Constitution, viz.
One extending the Presidential term
to six years and making the President
Ineligible to succeed himself: another
Go L,n al Of on
and Vice President by direct vote 81
the people, and another declaring that
United States Senators shall be chosen
by popular vote. We have already
discussed the first two of the PROPOSE
tions.
The election of United States Sena-
tors by the Legislatures of the diff
ferent States is one of the lingering
relics of old Federalism that distrusted
the people, and sought to remove the
power from them as far as possible in
the organization of Republican
government. Senators were made
elective by the Legislature to remove
them from q direct vote of the people,
and to give additional recognition to
the sovereignty of the State by max
ing the Senators represent the State
already shown, the same principle was
Incorporated in the Constitutions OF
the original States, as the Governors
were given the appointment of all
general and LEGAL offices. The States
have nearly or quite all abandoned
the restraint put upon the popular
power 10y making general and local
offices elective; and they would have
made United States Senators elective
by popular vote but for the fact that
the national Constitution interposes a
supreme objection.
All parties have professed their ap,
prevail of the policy of changing our
national Constitution to make United
States Senators elective by the people;
but professions made in political cam
paigns are often disregarded when the
period come for their fulfilment. 1t is
quite probable that the proposed
amendment to the Constitution re,
curing Senators to be elected by
popular vote will be earnestly opposed
in the Senate; but if those who have
publicly professed their approval Of
the measure can be forced to deci
sive vote, this important reform WOULD
likely command a reluctant approval
even in the Senate.
The theory that the State has 8
sovereignty that must be distinctly
recognized in representation in the
councils of the nation is no longer in
accord with our free institutions. The
civil war irrevocably deposed the
sovereignty of the States in all things
beyond the regulation of State affairs
in harmony with the supreme teach,
irg of the national government. a
United States Senator no longer repre-
sents the sovereignty Of the State, but
is, in fact, the representative of the
people of the State, and they, and
they only, should be entrusted with
the power of making a selection.
1t is not merely an open secret, but
matter of public notoriety, that
nearly or quite one-half of the present
mem bers of the United States Senate
would not have been elected by the
people of their respective States
Many of them represent pocket
commoDwealths, where the Senator
ship is merely matter of barter Oh
cunning political manipulation; an6
in a majority of the States today only
men of large fortunes attempt to viii
the highest Legislative honors of the
Republic. In many instances mel
who would not dare to submit them
selves to the people as a candidate fol
Senator have won their seats in the
first legislative tribunal of the nation
chiefly or wholly by corrupt purchase
by which the popular will is insolent
ly defied.
We sincerely hope that the present
Congress will inaugurate the three
amendments to Constitution we have
presented. They have all been widely
discussed for many years, and few
have ventured publicly to oppose
them, but no organized effort has ever
been made to press their adoption by
Congress. The many disgraceful