Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-15
CLARK DRAFTS PLAN
Proposed Compromise on d.
rect Election of Senators.
SUBMITTED TO CoNFEREEs
Two Constitutional Amendment,
Suggested to Settle Differences
Between Houses Of Congress.

A compromise that will result in the
submission Of two amendments to the
federal Constitution to the legislatures
OF tho states instead Of one may be the
outcome Of the conference between the
two houses Of Congress on the resolu-
ton for the direct election Of senator's.
The resolution passed by the House
proposed two changes in the Constitu-
tion--one Providing for tho election Of
senators by popular vote. the other TAX
Ing away from Congress the power now
given 1t by the Constitution over the
time and manner Of holding elections.
The Senate resolution simply provided
for the election Of senators by popular
vote It 10 upon the second part Of
the Heuse resolution that the difference
between tho two houses depends.
To settle the differences between the
two houses. Senator Clark Of Wyoming.
who heads the Senate conferees. has
ference Q compromise.
Two Amendments Proposed.
II this compromise is adopted 1t
win mean that Congress will propose
one amendment to the first paragraph
OF section of article I, which pro-
vides:
/ THE Senate Of the United States
shall be composed Of two senator's
from each state. chosen by the legisla-
ture thereof for six years. and each
senator shall have one vote"
BY substituting therefor:
THE Senate Of the United States
shall be composed Of two senators
from each state. elected by the people
thereof. for six years: and each sena-
in each state shall have the qualifica-
tons requisite for electors Of the most
numerous branch OF the state legisla-
ture."
The compromise would also propose
another amendment to the Constitu-
ton, to be considered separately. to
paragraph 1 Of section 4 Of article I
Of the Constitution. which provides:
''The times. places and manner Of
resentatives shall be prescribed In
each state by the legislature thereof:
but the Congress may at any time. by
law, make or alter such regulations.
except as to the place Of choosing
senator's.
BY substituting therefor:
THE times, places and manner Of hold.
ing elections for representatives shall be
prescribed in each state by the legisla-
ture thereof. but the Congress may at any
time BY law make or alter such regula-
tons. The times, places and manner OF
holding elections for senators shall be
proscr bed In each state by the legisla-
ture thereof"
Differences Between the Houses.
In Its direct-election resolution the
House proposed both amendments in one
amendment to the Constitution; in its
resolution the Senate proposed only the
first.
Both resolutions propose q further
amendment. made necessary by the adop-
ton Of the principle Of direct election.
upon which there is no disagreement, as
follows:
when vacancies happen in the repre-
sentation Of any state in the Senate. the
executive authority OF such state shall is
sue writs OF election to fill such vacancies;
provided that the legislature Of any
state may empower the executive thereof
to make temporary appointments until
the people fill the vacancies by election,
as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be con-
strued 30 as to affect the election or
term Of any senator chosen before 1t be-
comes valid As part Of the Constitution"
This would be coupled with the first
amendment