Evening journal., 1914-10-17
SATURDAY OCT. II. 1914



r, EPUBIICAN members Of the State Senate and
IL House Of Representatives should stand shout
der-to-shoulder with Governor Miller in his opposition
to the plan Of the Democratic majority in the House
Tor the filling OF vacancies caused by the DEATH re-
senaton or removal United States Senators in this
state. They it to him and to the public to give
such support to an executive who is seeking to con-
serve the best interests of the people.
on the face OF the legislative record as 1t stands
today the Republican majority in the Senate is with /
the Governor and the Republican minority IN the
House is against him and with the Democrats. Ihat |
record showing u.s. however, far from true with re-
spect to the real attitude of the Republican members
of the House They merely voted with the Democrats
for the passage of the Revised Code bill by the
House in order that it might get to the Republican
state Senate and be made the subject Of conference
between those two bodies
n should be borne in mind that the Revised Code
bin had to originate in the House because it en-
hraced certain revenue-producing provisions Until
it had been passed by the Democratic House and sent
TO the Republican Senate the Republican Senators
could have nothing whatever to say about It or It's
provisions except to give it tho customary or per-
functory preliminary reading. Il was therefore
highly important that the Republican minority In
the House do nothing to defeat the bill in
the lower chamber, because were that done It
would be the end OF Revised Code legislation
for the present and the Republican party would
compelled 70 assume responsibility for the defeat
4 lhe bill Il was due solely to that situation that
the Republican House members voted for the bill as
Il had been amended by the Democrats and permitted
IL to 10 to the Senate which body already has taken
steps to bring about a conference with the House. so
the matter of the method Of filling Senatorial va
cancy may be threshed out Meanwhile It should be
borne in mind by the public that the Republican mem
hers of the House in accord with the Republican
members of the Senate and the Republican Governor,
notwithstanding their votes in the House would seom
to indicate antagonistic attitude
The bill prepared by the bipartisan Revised Code
Commission provided that in event Of the death resg
aation or of United States Senator 1t should
be discretionary with the Governor whether he should
make am appointment order special election That
provision was based upon action already taken in the
matter OF filling Senatorial vacancies by Pennsyl-
eana M.ryland New Jerley, virgnie Illinois Ken
lucky and Colorado Examination Of the laws Of the
several states showed that Rhode Island was the only
State that had provided for the immediate filling OF
vacancy by special election
The provision made by the Revised Code Commits
sion did not meet with the approval Of certain Demo
cratic politicians this State. They proceeded to up
set ~ first through the Revised Statutes Committee
when certain Republican members were absent and
later through action by House The first plan wa.
that special election should be held within -four
mounths to nj a Senatorial vacancy. Subsequently
that was changed to provide that II vacancy oc
chrred less than one year prior TO the next genera
,fiection the Governor should nh q by appointment
hut that If it occurred more than before sue
election he should call special election.
The Democratic House put that amendment throug
in the face of knowledge OF the fact that Governo
Miller on economical and other grounds, was OF
posed TO and probably would veto the bill we're 1t
he sent to him with such provision embodied in IT,
10 time was lost by the Republican state Senate
meeting the issue. It rejected the Democratic Hou
amendment ana restored the bill to its original form
making II discretionary with the Governor whether
event Of a vacancy he should fiji it by appointmei
or special election
There the matter rests. pending conference by Il
two houses The Revised Code bill is such an N
portant one that it not likely the Democrats WI
care TO take the responsibility for killing IT, mere
because Of objection to provision framed by a I
partisan Revised Code Commission when all the 9th
provisions Of the bill have been accepted. Hence
IS altogether likely that the conference proceedin
will result in action satisfactory 10 the Governor
It is estimated that it would cost at least $3.50
hold a special election to I'LL a Senatorial vacan'
Many Republicans averse TO making such
ponditure mandatory. They express confidence th
discretionary power vested in the Governor Won
protect both the States legislative interests in Was
ngton and it's financial interests here at home