The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-23
THE HOUSE DIsAGREEs.

The House of Representatives. rs
was expected has refused to concur
in the Senate amendment 10 the House
measure for the popular election of L.
S. Senator's The Senate amendment
raised the same old question of the iur
isdiction Of Congress over Senatorial
elections. and this alienaied from the
measure the support of the Reprcsen.
tatives from the Southern States: al
though most Of the Southern Senators
agreed in the Senate to the proposition
as amended. 1T is likely, in view of
the latter fact that the House. after
conference, may be brought to the
Senate view, If the Senate stands firm
in its position.
We confess, however. in all this mat
ter, that we do not see any reason
why this question of jurisdiction should
be projected into the amendment We
do not understand why the amendment
cannot he made to cover simply
change from legislative election TO
popular election, letting the other pro
visions remain precisely as they are
in the Federal constitutions If this
were done, no question of Congress,
slonal Interference could arise. and no
question Of State antipathy could come
in. The constitution as it is gives Con
gress the power that is sought TO be
conferred by the Senate amendment,
and the only reason why that amend
-
change Is 80 drawn as apparently TO
take away from Congress the right Of
control of Senatorial elections, which
the constitution as it is guarantees.
Why not let that guarantee alone.
therefore. Just as il is, and merely
make the change of method of election!
The persistence in bringing in this
troublesome question without the least
need, appears astonishing, and would
indicate that there is bad faith some.
where in the handling of this question:
There seems TO be a density on the
part. both of the House and of the
Senate. with respect TO this question.
that is equally surprising: and that
Is the failure 10 recognize tho fac;
that large number Of States already
choose their Senators practically by
popular vote This can be done 10y
any State which desires TO do so. either
by primary election, or by party
nominations. the Senator nominated bj
either party being the one who would
be elected, as a matter of course. by
the legislature OF the party in control
of that body.
IT seems to us that an amendment dc.
cidcdly preferable in form TO the one
proposed would he simply TO change
Section 2 of Article OF the Fedora
constitution TO read that "The Sen
arc of tho United States shall he com
posed of two Senators from each State.
chosen as said state may direct, ia
place Of "chosen by the legislature
thereof, rs the section reads now
That would avoid all possible clash
ard would leave the supervising power
Of Congress in case of need. absolutely
untouched, II is evident however. that
something else j. aimed at by those IN
charge Of this amendment than merely
the change that appears ON the sur
face II the change as here suggested
were drafted as Al amendment, il
would 20 through without the least
question in either House, aud there
would be no reason why any State
should fail 10 ratify il. But complica
'ed with party desires and propositions.
il is no wonder that contention and de
lay ensue. An amendment such as here
suggested, If il had been proposed in
the hrst place in Congress would have
passed long ago. and probably would
have been ratified by ,hree-fourths OF
the States by this time. and he now
part OF the Constitution.