Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-12
ONLY BILL OF KIND
Ship Subsidy Measure Declared TO Be
Without q Precedent
ATTACKED BY MALLORY or FLORIDA
Arraigned as Bald and Bold Promotion Of
Private Interests.
At VARIANCE WITH RIGHT AND JUSTICE
Senator Frye Defends His Bill and Explains
Its PurpOrt,
HoAR AGAINST THE POPULAR BALLOT
Opposes Election OF Senators by
Vt VARIANCE WITH RIGHT AND JUSTICE
HoAR AGAINST THE POPULAR BALLOT
Opposes Election OF Senators by
Direct Vote a. subversive in Prin-
eiple 20 Essence OF the
Constellation.


WASHINGTON, March 11.-For several
hours today the senate had the ship sub
sidy bill under consideration. Mr.. Mallory
OF Florida made an extended speech n op-
position to the MEASURE. He analyaed the
bill carefully and held that there was no
good reason for It's enactment into Law,
saying he believed It would not accomplish
the results hoped for II by It's promoters.
His opposition was based chiefly on the
ground that Il would extend the favor. OF
the United States treasury to private In
dividuals and corporations without just
return for the expenditure.
Prior to consideration of the subsidiary
measure a lively debate occurred over an
effort on the part OF Mr.. Berry Of Arkansas
to ascertain when the committee on priv
iliges and elections might be expected to
report to the senate the resolution provid-
ing for the election Of senator's by the
direct vote Of the people.
Mr.. Hoar Of Massachusetts, indicated his
vigorous opposition to such a resolution on
the ground that It would subvert the princi-
pies upon which the senate was founded.
Senate Urges its Amendments.
The senate, at the request of Mr. Cullou
Of Illinois. one of the eonferees. disagreed
to the conference report on the bill provid-
ing IOT tue lnlO OucCt VI bhO eNtp~
ulations Of article of the Paris treaty
The senate insisted upon it's amendments
and Messrs. Cullom. Lodge and Morgan we're
named as conferees.
Article Z relates to the payment of claims
in Cuba and the bill proposes to amend
the act creating tho Spanish claims COM
mission, so as to provide for the attendance
of witnesses.
In a privileged statement Mr.. Berry of Ar
kansas said he had introduced early In the
present session resolution providing for
the election Of senators by direct vote OF
the people. This together with similar
resolution adopted by the house OF repre-
sentatives had been referred to the COM
, mittee on privileges and elections. The
house had passed such a resolution four
times. But the question never had been
| considered by the senate.
wants Speedy Action.
He was being pressed constantly, he said
| by correspondents to know when vote
would be taken upon the question by the
senate, and he desired to inquire OF the
chairman OF the committee whether the
senate could not have vote upon the
resolution before the close Of the present
| session.
Mr.. Burrows of Michigan, chairman OF the
| COmmlIJOe Ou pElNlcBcS anu OiOSNASh3t SASos
saying that what Mr.. Berry had said was
true, said: az will say to the senator that
there is no disposition upon the part OF
| the committee to shirl responsibility in
| connection with the resolution. Action upon
II will be taken and a report upon 1t VIII
\ be made"
"In time to take vote upon II at this
session." inquired Mr.. Berry.
"I have no doubt Of IT," replied Mr.. Bur-
| rows.
Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts,, one Of the
members Of the privileges and elections
committee and vigorous opponent OF the
resolution providing for the election Of SEN
ators by direct vote of the people, said 1t
ought not to be permitted to pass without
| few words of comment.
This is one Of the most important ques-
tions," said he, "that has arisen since the
adoption of the constitution. Indeed, It is
the first serious effort made to change the
mechanism involved In the principles Of
the constitution.
| vital Change I'm Constitution.
This is a proposition to change the prin-
| ciple upon which the constitution is
founded and Il is a matter of historical
fact that without the Incorporation OF this
principle the constitution never would
was given to states. small aud great, that
the equality of the states never would be
destroyed without the consent Of every one
OF them"
He did not believe that the adoption Of
| the resolution would be accomplished with
out breach Of the national pledges which
lies at the foundation OF this government
In a brief reply to Mr. Hoar. Mr.. Berry
said that this was not the time to discuss
the merits Of the proposition. but insisted
that the senate had a right to demand that
committee to which the resolution had
been referred should make some kind Of q
report, and he did not believe that the SEN
ator from Massachusetts, (Mr. Hoar) could
prevent a report being made.
Dubois Differs with Hoar.
Mr.. Dubois Of Idaho maintained that the
only point OF the constitution was that
every state should have two senators. The
manner OF their election was not a vital
principle.
At the conclusion OF the debate. which
had been proceeding by unanimous consent.
the senate passed eighty -One private PEN
sion bills.
other bills were passed as followsl
To reform the western judicial district OF
Arkansas, amending the act Of February 2,
1
manent military establishment, so as 10
provide for the transfer of oficers from the
line TO the stan for four years service. -
The senate then, at o'clock. resumed
consideration OF the ship subsidy bill. and
Mr. Mallory OF Florida, one Of the demo-
cratic members Of the COMMITTEES on COM
meree, addressed the senate in opposition
to the measure. He said In it's ultimate
analysis the bill was measure TO take the
money Of the taxpayers TO build up the
private business Of individuals and corpora
| tions.
| Expenditure Not Warranted.
Referring to Mr.. Frye's argument In sup
port Of the establishment OF an auxiliary
navy, for which the pending bill provides.
he did not believe there was su1hcient
justification for the extraordinary sxpendi-
| ture proposed by the bill.