Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-01
WILL DECIDE BY LOT
Baby Senators to Determine
Length of First Term.
PLAN OF ANCIENT ORIGIN
Solons Recently Chosen by Arizona
and New Mexico Sub
ject to the Rules.


withstanding the ideas of the people of
the United States to the contrary, is not
passed. Seats in the United States SEN
ate after March 3, 1913. are at stake, and
the drawing is sure to tax the nerves OF
every excited spectator.
The lottery is not open to the general
public, but only to the holders of slips
that certify that they are the choice of
either the New Mexico or the Arizona
Legislature to take part in the drawing.
That limits the number of participants to
four but much will be at stake to that
quartet
The lottery has been decided upon by
the leaders of the Senate through a GUS
tom that dates back farther than the
days of the great Louisiana lotteries
back even to the days of the organiza-
ton of the first session of the First Con
gress. in 1873. The drawing will take
place on day this week not yet selected
1t is for the purpose of determining how
long will be the terms in the Senate OF
each of the four baby wearerS of to-
gas who come from the new states.
Question of Absorbing Interest.
Two of the senator's will hold their seats
1915, and one only until March s, 1913
But which will serve one year, which
three years and which five years? There.
the rub. And it's to answer those ques
tons with equal justice to all and spe
cial privileges to none that the lotter,
will be held.
Under the Constitution the first Senat'
was to divide its membership into three
classes. SO that the service of third OF
the membership should expire every two
years. And the great and glorious
fathers of this great and glorious countr,
determined upon no better plan than Il
draw lots The drawing of lots, there
fore, has been going on ever since, wher
the coming in of new senators from newly
created states made it necessary to aware
a longer term to one senator than to an
other, SO that the terms of both senator
from the same state would not expire il
the same year.
The custom, established by the founder
of the republic and honored by time ant
much repetition, is to be followed whel
the four new senators from New MeXic
and Arizona make their debut in the sen
atorial limelight. The quartet will stel
to the bar of the Senate on a day desig
mated, and in order-the order first to b.
determined by lot-will draw slips 70
one-year, three-year and five-year terms
Those who will be the participants /,
this latest of legalized lotteries will b.
Senators-elect Mark Smith and Henry +
Ashurst of Arizona, and A. B. Fall an,
Z. B. Catron of New Mexico
Committee to Frame Rules.
The Senate committee on privileges an,
elections will frame and recommend tn
rules for the drawing. Senator billing
ham, the chairman Of that committee, i
busy in preparation of these rules an,
they will be brought into the Senate TO
its ratification early this week.
Senator Shively has suggested a set O
rules for the drawing. by introducing
resolution which provides:
That the Senate now proceed to ascer
tain the classes to which the senator
from the state of Arizona shall be as
signed in conformity with the resolution
of the 18th Of May, 1883, and as the Con
stitut.on requires.
THAT the secretary put into the ballo
box two papers of equal size, one o
which shall be numbered 1 and the othe
shall be a blank. Each of the senator
from the state of Arizona shall draw GU
one paper, and the senator, who shall
draw the paper numbered / shall be as
signed to the class of senators who's
term of service will expire the Sd day O
March, 1917.
That the secretary then put into tn
ballot box two papers of equal size, one o
which shall be numbered and the othe
shall be numbered 3. The other senate
shall draw out one paper. If the pape
drawn be numbered . the senator shall
be assigned to the class of senator
whose term of service will expire the 3,
day of March. 1913, and if the pape
drawn be numbered 3 the senator shall b.
assigned to the class of senators who's
term of service will expire the Sd day o
March, 1915"