Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-23
ON ELECTION Of SENATORS
Minority Committee Reports Against
Change in Supervision, F't'
DIRECT CHOICE ALMOST IGNORED
Substitute Amendment is suEsested
which VIII Not Interfere with
Federal Control nj
Elections.

WASHINGTON. May 22.-No popular de-
mand exists for a change in the consti-
tuition so as TO deprive congress OF the
right to supervise the election of United
States senator's. So aSseFted a minority of
the members Of the sehaxe committee on
the Judiciary in a repoft filed today. The
report opposed the withdrawal OF such
right of supervision frtm congress as Is
contemplated in the plan for the selection
OF senators by direct tote OF the people
1t was signed by Senator'S Clark, wyoming;
Nelson. Dillingham;, Sutherland, Brandegee
and Root. all REPUBLICANS.
TIE report igrqres tts sfuestion NJ direct
elections and deals enfirsly with ti1at OF
supervision. which-is declared to be the
more important feature OF tire house cleo
ton resolution, which is now before the
senate on a report from the majority OF
the judiciary committee,
II Is contended that there Is no reason
why the ultimate authority Of the national
government over the times and manner OF
electing senators by direct popular vote
should not continue to be exercised just
as 1t always has been exercised over the
direct election of representatives by
popular vote.
Contention. also is made that possession
of the power which It is proposed 10 strike
out Is essential 10 enable the national gov
ernment to act effectively in case Il should
ever have occasion to enforce the provis~
ions of the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments TO the constitution.
THE basis OF any enforcement of those
provisions must necessarily be the Ascer-
tainment and establishment of the facts
in respect OF the elections 20 which they
may relate" says the report. THE
the latest expression OF the sovereign will
Of the people of the United States and
would take away from the national gov
ernment authority to make those regula-
| tions regarding regulations which are
essential to the preservation of the evidence
regarding what actually occurs"
Substitute suEgested.
The report concludes:
THE two proposed amendments ought 10
| be considered separately, and each upon
| It's own merits. The existing tendency
| toward the direct election OF senators by
\ the people ought not TO be made vehicle
or pretext for getting the approval OF con-
| gress to an entirely separate and distinct
proposal. to destroy federal control over
elections. The people of the country ought
not to be compelled to approve, through
| their legislatures, a change which they
! may not desire as the price OF securing
another change which they may desire.
| IN order 20 prevent this unfair and In
furious treatment OF the subject, we
recommend that the resolution be amended
/ to read follows;
Joint resolution proposing an amendment
70 the constitution proyiding that senators
shall be elected by the people Of the
Resolved by the senate and house OF
| representative OF the United States OF
| America In congress assembled (two-thirds
OF each house eoncurrang therein), That
three of article l Of the constitution Of
the United States. and In lieu OF so much
OF paragraph two OF the same section as
| relates TO the filling OF vacancies, the 1Ol
| lowing be proposed as an amendment tC
the constitution. which shall be valid tC
constitution when ratified by the legisla
lures OF three-fourths OF the states:
! The senate OF the United States shal
| be composed OF two senators from eacf
state, elected by the people thereof for si1
| years; and each senator shall have ons
vote. The electors in each state shal
have the qualifications requisite fol
electors of the most numerous branch o
the state legislature.
When vacancies happen In the repre-
ssntati.on OF any state in the senate. th'
issue writs OF election to I'll such va
cancies; Provided That the Legislature
Of any state may empower the executive
thereof 10 make temporary appointment
/ until the people I'll the vacancies by elec
] ton as the legislature may direct
This amendment shall not be so con
strued as to affect the election or term OF
any senator chosen before IL becomes VaHC
as part OF the constitution.