Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-27
SEN. LEWIS WINS OUT
His Resolution Favorlns Convention
to Urge the Election Of United
States Senators Directly by the PEG.
pie Passes the Senate After Warm
Debate.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Des Molnes Bureau Of the Courier.

Des Molnes Bureau Of the Courier.
Des Moines, Feb. "a.
The senate today passed the Smith
BILL to strike the circle from the Of
fetal ballot Six votes we're recorded
against 1t and thirty-one for 1t. The
house concurred in the senate resolu-
ton to adjourn from Wednesday next
to the following Tuesday.
The Gilliland bill to allow supervis-
ors to spend $500 a year in agricult-
ural experimentation on poor farms
passed the senate and the senate con-
firmed the appointment Of Judge Rob-
inson as member of the board Of con-
troll to succeed himself.
Lewis Resolution Passes.
Late yesterday afternoon, after a
spirited debate, the senate passed the
Lewis resolution, authorizing Govern
or Cummins to call a convention Of
representatives Of the several states
OF the union In July to devise means
to secure amendment to the federal
constitution so that United States SEN
ators may be elected by the people in
stead OF by the legislatures
A Violent Discussion.
Much violent language was used in
the discussion of the resolution. SEN
ator Gilliland, for instance, twice re-
ferred to "the scoundrels that are In
the United States senate, but did not
specify except to say that Iowa had no
reason to blush for her senators at
Washington Senator Lewis did say
that it was understood or rumored that
Standard Oil and other trusts own
60 fn AZ - sv> ~r1,{ ,,o~ k~y,
Senator Molsberry rebuked the SEN
ate for frivolty In this connection.
Laughter had greeted some Of the
witty sallies of the senator from Mills
who said he would support the meas
ure because he thought 1t eventually
would amount to nothing, and Senator
Molsberry said that he could not under
stand how a lawyer, at least, could ap-
proach a subject Of SO very grave i'm
portauce as the amendment of the
greatest document ever penned by hui
man hands with levity. He made a
very eloquent speech without personal
feeling or reference against the propo-
sition to have a convention In Iowa
whose purpose will be to devise means
to secure the amendment Of the federal
constitution so that the senators shall
be elected by the people instead OF the
Legislatures. He defended the wise
precaution taken by the forefathers in
| framing the document to preserve In
safety the interests of the people from
| the whinl of the hour and the frenzy
of the nom emit. He referred to 1896 as
a very excellent example of what may
happen to this country when the peo-
pie are untrammeled and expressed the
opinion that provision which pre-
vents tinkering with the constitution
under spasmodic crazes like that In.
volving 16 to 1, is an excellent thing
! to keep in the constitution. Senator
Molsberry's argument had much weight
with the senate in this matter. He also
offered the amendment which framed
the resolution in proper shape for &C
ton.
House May Change Resolution.
| The belief prevails among many OF
the interested persons that the Chill
land resolution will not get through
the lower house In the form IL which
lit was passed by the senate. The
| friends Of the senator from Mills think
he made q mistake in the introduction
Of the resolution and they propose to
amend it by providing for commit
tee to Investigate the charge which
they allege that the governor made.
They allege that the governor
charged the members of the legisla
ture with bribery, and being corrupt
ed by the railroad lobby in the mat
ter of the primary election bill.
Senator Smith, of Mitchell, declared
on the floor of the senate yesterday
that the governor had made no such
charge. This the friends of the gov
ernor have claimed from the very first
day the row started.
Homeseekers and Settlers!
To points In Nebraska, Ee stern Col