The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-17
FEARED BY SENATORS.
Much Active Opposition to Direct
Vote Movement.
SLIM CHANCES FOR ITS SUCCESS.
Government Departments Housed I'm
Cramped Quarters-Canal bill Cam
not he Used as Pusher-some For
efgn Born Senators.

eign Born Senators.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-lSpecial. i
Senators who oppose the proposition TO
elect senators by direct vote of the
people are beginning to take more than
an Indifferent interest in the movement
that the states are making TO bring the
matter to a head. Under the constitu-
ton, If two-thirds of the states should
request a convention TO amend the
constitution, congress must provide for
such a convention. This would mean
that thirty states by making the re-
quest could secure such a convention.
Six states have made the request, and
when the legislatures assemble next
winter others may do so. or course
such convention might not decide
that it was n good thing to have sena-
tors elected by direct vote, but at the
same time Ii Is method that may be
taken TO get around the opposition of
the senate to such a plan. The house
= has several times passed resolution
for such an amendment. but the senti-
ment in the senate against any such
change is stronger now than it was a
dozen years ago. Should such a con-
vention be called three-fourths Of the
states would have to ratify the amend
ment. Taking all the difficulties into
consideration, it looks as II many years
will pass before there is new method
of electing senators.
Buildings Wanted.
AS our government grows, more Of
fee room is needed, and the depart
ment of state is looking for new quar-
tiers. The war department wants more
room, and the big building for the
state, war and navy which seemed ade-
quate few years ago would not more
than comfortably care for our war Of
flee. Now it is proposed that a build
ing furnishing ample accommodations
for the state and justice departments
shall be erected near the present state,
war and navy building, SO that more
room for the war and navy depart
ments may be obtained. For several
years there has been an appropriation
of $1,O00O00 to erect Il department of
justice building, but neither Attorney
General Griggs nor Knox would go
ahead with the building because they
said the amount was entirely insufficient
for such building as the department
needs. But the government needs
great deal more than one new building.
There should be a vast hall for records,
a new department Of agriculture. not to
say anything about an enlarged White
House. There is plenty for the sur
plus to do right here in Washington.
Not as a "Pusher."
The Democrats of the senate are not
going to allow the Isthmian canal bill
to become ''pusher" TO hurry them
through the debate on the Philippine
bill. THE river and harbor bill was
used successfully for the purpose of
securing Philippine and Cuban legsla-
ton in the last congress-" said one Of
the leaders, "and the game cannot be
worked again. We are ready to take
up the canal bill at any time and pass
it and then consider the Philippine bill
afterward but if the party in power
decides to pass the Philippine bill first
it will have to take the responsibility.
1t is not our intention to debate the
Philippine bill with any intention Of
defeating it, for we know it is impossi-
bic and have no such desire, but we do
intend TO say all we want TO on the
subject before vote is taken"
Foreign Born Senators.
Il am glad to see you about the SEN
ate" remarked Senator Nelson OF Min
nesota TO Senator Jones of Nevada up
on the occasion of the latters first APP
pearance in the senate this session.
1--WE foreigners" he continued, ARE
not so numerous. and we must be on
hand to watch our interests" Not
only that" replied Senator Jones, "but
we are needed to keep up the general
average here" Both of these senators
are as intensely American as any mem
bers of the body, though Jones was
born in England and Nelson in Nor
way. The other foreign born senators
are Mcmillan of Michigan, Willard of
Nebraska, Gallinger Of New Hamp-
shire, Kearns Of Utah, all born in Can
ada; Simon Of Oregon, born in Ger
many, and Wetmore of Rhode Island,
who was born in England while his
parents were visiting abroad. The late
Senator Sewell of New Jersey was a
native of Ireland. All the foreign born
senator's came to the United States In
their early years, --s--.- ------
Thirteen Survivors.
When a proposition was made TO
have a dinner for those members Of
the house who were members OF the
Forty-seventh congress twenty years
ago, Il was found that only eight men,
bers Of the present house could re-
spond and Speaker Henderson would
be eliminated, so 1t was decided to
make IT dinner of the Forty-seventh
and Forty-eighth congresses, and 1t
was found that thirteen would answer
the roll call. They are Bingham Pa.),
Cannon and Hit Gid, Henderson and
Hepburn Qa.), Hooker (NIiss.), Ketch-
am Payne, Ray and Wadsworth On.
". Steele Qnd.), Lanham (Tex) and