The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-20
UTAH IS AWAITING
DECISION OF SENATE
Settlement of Maryland SEN
atorial Contest Means
Much to This State.

The decision Of tho senate with refer
ence 10 the recommendation OF the report
OF the committee on privileges and cleo
uons seating Blair Lee. senator-elcct from
Maryla nd. Will he watched with interest
in Utah, as this decision will have a d.
rect bearing Oh the election OF a United
States senator from Utah next fall
Upon the death of Senator Isldor Ray
ner OF Maryland, Governor Goldsboroueh
appointed Sena tor W. p. Jackson TO sue
ceed him. Under the former plan this
appointment would have continued In
force until the next legislature met TO
choose a successor.
However, soon after the appointment
Of Senator Jackson the amendment 10
the United States constitution providing
for the direct election OF United states
senators became effective after Its ratifl
cation by three-fourths OF the states of
the union and the issuance or a proclama-
ton 10 that effect by the secretary OF
state.
a controversy then arose as 10 wheth-
er or not legislation by the several states
was necessary TO put the constitutional
provision in operation. Governor Colds
borough held that such legislation was
not n,deG necessary t and by MS proea nation
Maryland among the Offices TO be filed
at the general election held In Maryland
last November. Blair Lee was chosen
senator at that election
The question as TO the legality of Lees
election WAS then brought before the
committee on privileges and elections In
the senate Senator j. w. Kern, chair
of the committee, reported to the senate
that the election was legal and that Lee
was entitled to his seat. Senator George
Sutherland OF Utah was among the MI
norlty of the committee voting agains,
the seating Of Lee.
Senator Sutherland takes the position
that either state legislation or a national
law passed as a temporary measure TO be
In force until the various state IegIsls-
lures act In the matter, Is necessary be-
fore an election under the provisions OF
the new amendment may be held.
IN compliance with his views Senator
sutherland is one OF the authors OF "a bill
now before congress, which provides that
until state legislatures pass laws on the
subject United States senators shall be
chosen in the various states In manner
similar 10 that in which governors OF
the various states are now chosen,
III the senate adopts the majority re-
port of the committee on privileges and
elections and seats Lee, 1t VIII mean that
neither legislation by the several states
nor special act Of congress Is necessary
TO put the new amendment in operation.
II The seuat votes against the seating
OF Lee, IL means that either special state
legislation or all act Of congress is nee
cssary before senators can be chosen by
the people in states where no provision
Is made in the state laws for the direct
election OF senators
The Importance OF this decision 10 Utah
II readily seen. Utah has no legislation
providing for the direct election or United
States senators. The term OF United
States Senator Reed S'moot expires OH
March next and the expecta ton Is
that his successor Will he chosen at the
election of next November IL the sem
ate decides To seat Senator Lee OF Mary
land 1T VIII establish a precedent that
viii oc followed IN other cases and IL will
mean that Utah will need no legislation
on the subject i'm order 10 choose It's sen
ator next iail On The other hand, if Lee
is moi sea ted. the decision will mean that
an act of congress is necessary or that
Utah must call special session OF the
legislature to pass a law making tho dI-
rect election amendment operative