Omaha daily bee., 1911-02-18
no PROGRESS MADE DURING DAY
Three Speeches Delivered on Subject
for and Against.
HEYBURN BALKs ON PROPOSAL
Refuses Consent to Adjournment for
Ballot on Wednesday.
RAYEER SPEAKS FOR AMENDMENT
he pleads with Ifis Colleagues Not 20
Load the p'cpr'ition with Bur-
den that Nny EndRn-
Ee-r ".


wAsH1NGToN. Feb. 17-Enmeshed in an
apparently hopeless tsnzie over The Joint
resolution providing for the election OF
United States senators by direct vote and
in the face OF positive opposition from the
champions OF the measure. the senate adj
journed a few minutes before O'Clock to
day.
It had been hoped by friends III the meas
ure that a night session might G held and
. vote taken at least on tine sutherland
amendment retaining the control OF sen
atorial elections In congress. IS a ndatter
OF fact however, no progress was made
save that three speeches on the subject
were delivered. These were male 10y Sen
ator Haynor IN opposition TO tho Suther-
land provision and by Senators Garter and
Hepburn in support Of II.
Mr.. Hepburn was the last speaker While
he was on the floor several senator's en-
gagged IN an active propaganda in favor Ct
an agreement npon a definite time for
vito and the announcement was made at
last that Mr.. Hepburn was the only s9u-
ator whose assent 10 this arrsngemcnI mad
not been obtained. When he was APP
preached on the subject he declined.
HeyBurn objects.
When Mr.. Borah the other Idaho senator
asked for an agreement to vote next
Wednesday MIR. Hepburn promptly OBJ
jected. One objection is sufficient to pre-
vent unanimous agreement. and because
Of the attitude OF his colleague no course
was left 10 Mr. Borah except that Of press
ms the measure by asking the senate to
stay for a night session. MIR. Gallinger
moved an adjournment The friends of the
measure rallied and on a roll call voted
the motion down. a to IS, but when a few
minutes later Senator Nelson, who had
waited patiently all day TO get an oppOr-
tunity 70 speak made plea for nights
rest the objection to closing the session
faded away, adjournment coming soon
aftcrward.
II was understood the election question
would be takon up early tomorrow.
In View OF the fact. that another order Of
business has been arranged for 2:S0 O'Clock
there may be a change OF program.
President Taft was appealed to to assist
la getting night session on the resolu-
tion in the interest Of the dispatch OF gem
erai business. but late in the day word
came that he had not been able to do any
thing IN that direction. Al the close OF the
sitting the friends OF the measure were
By no means as hopeful OF getting a vote
at any time In the session as previously
they had been.
Rayner for Amendment.
senator Rayner Of Maryland took the
floor promptly lie gave most Of his at
tention TO the amendment.
lie contended that even without the
Sutherland provision the federal govern
ment had the right to protect voters
against fraud or intimidation. lie there
fore appealed to supporters OF the original
proposition not to burden 1t with any
amendment which, like the pending propo
sition, would imperil the success Of the
resolution itself.
Then the first interruption began
Why did Il lmperil the resolution"
asked Mr.. Nelson.
Because" replied Mr. RaSner 1T would
affect 9 large number OF votes on the
democratic side OF the chamber who would
vote against the proposition with the
sutherland amendment Incorporated in it,
Attitude Of Democrats.
why should they vote against IT."
asked the Minnesota senator
Il am not mind reader and cannot
undertake to say" Mr.. Rayner replied
IF q senator will visit this side he will
find out But l am sure that the amend
ment win weaken the resolution. We need
a twothirds vote to adopt the resolution
and cannot afford to take chances"
Mr. Rayner contended that the amendment
would have the effect OF injecting a new
provision into the constitution. because he
said tho election OF senators by the peo-
pie Il = different proposition from election
by the state legislatures
1T 10 new application OF an existing
principle" said MT. Sutherland.
Absolutely Il is not" declared the Mary.
lard senator 1T Is now impossible to sc
behind the action OF the Legislature"