The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-09
SENATORS TALK OVER
POPULAR ELECTION
Mr.. Berry Does Not Want
Bill Smothered.
Mr. Depcw Blanes Democrats and Mr..
Blackburn Says his Patty Favored
Original Measure.

spirited discussion was preetpitated in
the Senate today, at the conclusion OF
routine business, when the resolution Of
fered yesterday by Mr. BERRY Of Arkan-
sas was laid before the Senate It asked
that the Committee On Privileges and
Elections be discharged frC1n further con
sidcration of the House resolution provid-
ing in brief for the election OF Uaited
States Senators by a direct vote of the
people. and asked that the resolution 20
tG the calendar
SIR Berry charged that after a delay of
five months, and I5a1y excuses. the COM
mittee had finally refused to report the
resolution, favoTably or unfayorably, with
CT without amendment, and he insisted
that the Senate had right. IN al! fairness.
to act upon it He declared that it was
nnorstrous to smother any piece OF Iegis-
tion in committee
An Optimistic View.
MIR. Burrows Of Michigan. chairman of
the committee. asserted there was no in
Gication Of . desire en- the part Of the
committee TO smother the resolution. The
committee had given to the subject q most
careful and thorough consideration and
had observed no sign of pardsanship in
the committee The day before yesterday
the committee had voted TO on a prop.
osition to report favorabIy and to 5 on
a proposition to report adversely. One
member did not vote and three were alb
sent.
If the entire committee had been pres
ent, he said. the resolution would have
been reported back to the Senate either
favorably or adversely. and he believed it
would be reported at an early day.
3 Point of Order on Mr. Depew.
Nj Hoar. a member Of The committee,
spoke OF the great Importance of the sub
ject and Mr.. Depew said that he had been
present at every meeting of the commit
tee and put the blame for delay on the
Democratic members tecause they had
voted agaiust it. His announcement drew
a point OF order from Mr.. Teller that
committee secrets should not be dis
eussed Oh the floor Of the Senate.
Democratic Position Stated.
Mr Blackburn Of Kentucky explained
Ai4t pSSsAiLAi VI S1aE 4yCsIDNi 4 k4C ssEEzAAtt5
in the committee. majority OF them
had been in favor Of the joint resolution
as passed by the House, but after the
New York director had got through with
his handling Of the case 1t was not ac-
eeptable either TO the Republicans or the
Democrats Of the committee
He added that it was an oEsR secret
that a majority Of the Democrats were
in favor Of the joint resolution as II came
frcm the House. and that ell Of them were
opposed to it as amended by the Senator
from New York, because that amendment
gave 10 the Federal Government abso-
lutte supervision and control of the cleo
ton Of Senators. In the opiRisn Of a ma
jority Of the committee the Joint resolu-
tion was absolutely worthless for any
purpose after the amendEgent was
adopted
Mr. Depew explained that the purpose
CT his amendment was simply this: That
II the people were to vote for Senator's.
the people should be permitted to vote;
and that if they were deprived of that
privilege the Senate should know why
they were so deprived, and whether OF not
they had voted That, he said. was ali Of
his amendment