The Washington herald., 1908-04-12
SIX STATES IN LINE
Congress PetitiOned for Con.
stitutiOnal Convention.
DIRECT VOTE ISSUE GROWS
Senators Convinced that 1t VIII
Soon Acquire TmpOrtance-Protest
Against Late Senator bryan Is Laid
Aside Forever-WoHId Change Law
Regarding Election OF Senator'S.

only six States have petidoned Con-
gTess for constitutional convention TO
consider an amendment authorizing the
election Of United States Senator's by
the direct vote OF the people.
These States are New Jersey. Illinois.
Wisconsin. Iowa. Montana, and Nevada.
All the petitions were carefully gone
over at a meeting Of the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections yes
terday.
In view OF the fact that the required
three-fourths of the States had not ped-
tened Congress. no action was taken
on the petitions.
All had been passed by the State legis-
latures of the respective States. ana were
in proper form. There was considerable
discussion in the committee over the
rapid growth of the sentiment in favor
Of the popular election Of Senators, and
the probability that It would soon be-
come an issue of profound Importance.
The committee. of which Senator Bur-
rows. of Michigan, is chairman, met tn
consider the petitions and the matters
lacked one member of having a quorum,
but the pending legislation was consider
ed informally. and some Of its was dis
posed Of
Dispose of Calls Protest.
A protest filed by ex-senator Wilkinson
Call. Of Florida. against the seating Of
William ]. Bryan. late a Senator from
that State. was laid aside permanently, in
view of the recent death Of Senator
Bryan. The objections raised by Mr.. Cali
were based upon alleged irregularity in
Mr. Bryan's appointment, the protestant
eontending that the governor of Florida
had not been elected in accordance with
the constitutional requirement, and, there
fore, was disqualified to hold office or dis
charge the duty of naming a Senator of
the United States 10 I'LL a vacancy. The
objections were not directed against Mr..
Bryan personally.
Mr. Cali has given no intimation Of filing
o~otest against the successor of MIR.
q, Mr.. Milton. who was also ap-
ed by the governor TO serve ad
m.
Gus attention was given to a bill
mend section "a. chapter /, of the
ed Statutes Of the United States, to
more definite the time provided for
ecIion by legislatures of the several
of Senators Of the United States.
law now provides that elections
be held the second Tuesday after
meeting and organization of the legis-
lature. What the lawmakers want TO
settle is whether the time limit shall
run from the date Of the temporary or
the permanent organization. No action
was taken, but it is probable that an
amendment VIII be reported making the
permanent organization Of the date from
which to compute the time.
Publicity Bills Not Considered,
Senator Tillman had introduced a bin
which corresponds with the publicity bill
in the House. IN his absence it was not
taken up or considered. For the same
reason a similar measure, introduced by
Senator Culberson, Of Texas, was not
acted upon. although It was discussed
in the committee. Mr Culberson's bin
prohibited national banks and other Fed
eral corporations from contributing 10
campaigns for the election of officers.
and an amendment, offered later, requires
campaign managers to make a published
statement. under oath. of receipts and
expenditures. A publicity bin viii prob
ably De reported by the Senate COM
mIttee before the close OF the session.