The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-04

II is to be acted upon AT meeting OF
the fun committee this week.
Only nine OF tho states have failed to
declare by legislative enactment in IA
vor Of the election of sena tors by popu-
lar vote. These arc West Virginia, Del
aware Massachusetts, Maine New York.
and Rhode Island. In addition, the house
Of representatives has on four separate
occasions passed by two thirds vote q
resolution proposing such constitutional
amendment. The senate has on each oc-
casion failed or refused 10 vote on tho
resolution.
The only vote so far taken on this
question Of having the members OF that
body elected by direct vote was In 1905.
when Senator Owen OF Oklahoma brought
up FOR consideration resolution nc had
offered motion to refer tho resolu :
tion 10 the senate committee on prVl-
leges and elections; where II nov Is. pre-
vailed by a vote OF 33 10 20. Thirty nine
senators did not vote. Twenty-seven or
them are still in the senate and nineteen
of them Will be members OF the senate
that VIII come into life on March next
Senator BriStow Of Kansas is respon-
sih'e for the present prominence OF the
question. He secured an agreement just
before adjournment for the holiday re-
cess that vote would be taken on the
resolution at this session. II II falls
this time the resolution will be brought
forward next winter.
Fertilization of Canal.
Early in January Representative James
the house committee on. appropriations.
and Representative David ]. Foster OF
Vermont chairman OF the house com
mittee on foreign affairs. will renew the
campaign against the plan to spend mil
lions for the fortifIcation Of the Panama
canal. They are opposed to the fortifica-
tion OF the canal property first. on the
ground OF economy. and second, on the
ground that such course would not
be approved by the powers. Mr.. Tawnev
IL the man who has good deal to do
with the purse strings of the government.
and therefore has considerable influence
In the house. He has joined with Chair
resolution now pending before the for
eign affairs committee. which provides
that the nations OF the world shall he In
vited To subscribe TO a treaty declaring
the canal zone 10 be neutral property.
This would protect the canal in time Of
war, and at the same time save Uncle
Sam millions OF dollars.
Messrs Tawney and Foster Will voice
their objections to the fortificaton Of
The Panama canal at meeting OF the
New York City this month. Andrew Car
negie is president Of this organization.
lie has announced himself favorable to
the rali5ation OF the canal.
The administration is committed to
the policy Of fortification, and President
TAFT VIII send a special message to con
sress on the subject this month. The
the opposition of such leaders as Taw-
ney and Foster In the house and Eugene
itale OF Maine IN the senate make Tor
determined fight
Apportionment Question.
a conference Of house leaders will soon
be held to determine whether an appor-
tlonment act shall be passed at this Sos
son OF congress. Opposition 10 enlarge
mcnt OF the house personnel has faded
away. y coalition OF delegations from
states that have lost I'm population
and would thus lose in representa-
uon II the house were kept at
approximately its present size made
futile the efforts OF the leaders 10
force the adoption Of measure
to their Hiking. So 1t has been decided
that unit OF representation shall be
adopted that Will insure every state
malntai ming al least its present strength
In the house. Some states will gain Nom
bers. OF course, bur no state Will lose
members by reason Of decline in popu-
lation. The house as at present constI-
tuted numbers 3ai members. The indi-
cations are that the number VIII be in
creased 10 al least 430.
Now that the form of the apportion-
ment act has been determined, it Is up
10 the leaders TO determine whether the
measure shall he passed at this session
For political reasons some Republicans
favor postponing action on the bill until
next winter Whether such course Will
be followed is soon to be decided
Only determined Democratic opposi
ton can prevent the creation OF a perma =