Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-04-11
THEW0RKOF CONGRESS-
Senator Depew Speaks on Popular
Election of Senators.
WOULD AMEND RESOLUTION.
Declares Qualifications of Citizens
Entitled to Vote For United
States Senator'S Should BE
Uniform In All States.

Washington, April 11.-Soon after
the senate convened Mr.. Depew IN. ~
offered an amendment to the resolu-
ton to provide for the election Of SEN
ators by popular vote. The amend
ment was as follows:
1.-The qualification of citizens emit
tied to vote for United States senators
and representatives in congress shall
be uniform in all the states, and con-
gress shall have power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation ana
to provide for the registration of cltl-
zens entitled to vote, the conduct OF
such elections and the certificate OF
the result"
Mr.. Depew addressed the senate In
support of his amendment. In part he
said:
"rhe proposed amendment under
consideration proposes to make the
senate a popular body and reverse the
principle upon which the government
has existed down to the present time.
With the adoption of such an amend
ment to the constitution, if it is adopt
ed, this addition which offer to 1t is
the clear and logical sequence.
"A number of states have by vari-
GUS devices prevented third or half
or more of citizens recognized as such
by the constitution Of the United
States from exercising the right of
suffrage. The local reasons which
have led to the adoption of these meas
ures are not pertinent to this discus
sion. The adoption of these new con-
situations in several states, however,
containing grandfather and other
clauses, has led to movement In the
house of representatives and the legis-
latures Of some of the states to change
the representation in the house of rep
resentatives from population to votes.
Would Make situation IntOlerable.
"But IL by the election Of United
States senators a small Oligarchy in
any state can send here representa-
| ton equal to that of great states like
New York. which have manhood suf-
| frage; if states in which half Of the
voters are DISTINGUISHED are to have an
equal voice in this body with states
like Pennsylvania, of five OF ten times
their population and with manhood
suffrage; if New York, which casts be-
cause Of it's manhood suffrage 1919
votes, is to be neutralized in legislation
affecting her vast interests by Missis-
sippi, casting $4,000 votes because the
majority of her citizens are disfran-
chised, then the situation becomes in
tOlerable.
II am not, under ordinary circum
stances and normal conditions, in ia
vor of the proposed reduction of repre-
sentatives in the southern states; am
not in favor Of any legislation by the
general government which interferes
with the local affairs of those common
wealths. but if the door is opened by
the adoption of this amendment to the
constitution for the changing of the
character and constitution Of the SEN
ate of the United States then that
measure must necessarily be accompa-
MED by power to insure full and hon
est vote of the citizens of the republic
and protect this body in the election of
those who may be designated here as
senator's"
Mr.. Depew was accorded the pro-
found attention Of the senate as he
spoke.
The senate passed the postoffice ap-
sideratiop Of the Chinese exclusion bill