July 14, 1911
Mr. BORAH. l\fr. President, several weeks ago the Senate passed the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 39) proposing an amendment n t to the Constitution providing that Senators shall be elected by the people of the several States . The matter went back to the Ho us e, owing to an amendment, and afterwards came here, and upon motion we asked for a conference and appointed conferees. There seems to have arisen in the situation a very grave and pro fo und question, and that is whether the House conferees shall notify the Senate conferees or the Senate conferees notify the House conferees. So far there has been no meeting of the co nf ere e s, owing to the fact that this very difficult and very grave constitutional problem, I suppose, is undetermined. Ev ery one will recognize at once that it presents a very serious q ue t ion, undoubtedly one of the most serious questions with w h i c h this bo d y has ever had to deal, as to whether the House c onfer ees shall appear at our door or we appear at their door. Owing to the seriousness of this matter, I do not desire this afternoon to urge it. I want to give the Senate full time to con s i d er it in all its grave import. But unless the conferees are able to get together some time during the coming week I wm a s k the Senate to direct the Senate conferees as to how they shall 11 g et in touch with the House conferees.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
- l\fr. The scans read: “Mr.” (microfilm scan), “l\fr.” (main scan)
- Ho us The scans read: “House,” (microfilm scan), “Ho us” (main scan)
- pro fo The scans read: “profound” (microfilm scan), “pro fo” (main scan)
- nf ere The scans read: “conferees,” (microfilm scan), “nf ere” (main scan)
- Ev Only one scan has this word: “Ev” (main scan)
- ery one The scans read: “Everyone” (microfilm scan), “ery one” (main scan)
- q Only one scan has this word: “q” (main scan)
- ue Only one scan has this word: “ue” (main scan)
- t ion, The scans read: “question,” (microfilm scan), “t ion,” (main scan)
- bo d The scans read: “body” (microfilm scan), “bo d” (main scan)
- onfer ees The scans read: “conferees” (microfilm scan), “onfer ees” (main scan)
- con s The scans read: “consider” (microfilm scan), “con s” (main scan)
- 11 Only one scan has this word: “11” (main scan)
Mr. NELSON. Mr. President--
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
1\lr. CULLOM. I morn that the Senate proceed to the consid e ration of executive business. .
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
- 1\lr. Only one scan has this word: “1\lr.” (main scan)
- morn The scans read: “move” (microfilm scan), “morn” (main scan)
- consid Only one scan has this word: “consid” (main scan)
- . The scans read: “Mr.” (microfilm scan), “.” (main scan)
l\lr. NELSON. I trust the Senator from Illinois will yield to me for a minute.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
- l\lr. Only one scan has this word: “l\lr.” (main scan)
Mr. CULLOM. I will yield to the Senator. -
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
Mr. NELSON. I feel that the criticism of the Senator from I Idaho, as far as it reflects on the Senate conferees, is wholly unwarranted. My associates, the chairman of the conference committee, the Senator from Wyoming [1\Ir. CLARK], and the senior Senator from Georgia [Mr. BACON], are not here. The joint resolution is in the possession of this committee. It has always been my experience in matters of conference— I think, that of every Senator here who has had experience in such matters is to the same effect-that when the House conferees are ready to act they call upon the Senate conferees. We have the joint resolution in our possession, and we . have been ready at all times to meet with the House conferees, but they have manifested no disposition to do so up to this till'.}.e; and we are certainly not to blame.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
- [1\Ir. Only one scan has this word: “[1\Ir.” (main scan)
- CLARK], The scans read: “Crark],” (microfilm scan), “CLARK],” (main scan)
- the The scans read: “th,” (microfilm scan), “the” (main scan)
- till'.}.e; The scans read: “timo-” (microfilm scan), “till'.}.e;” (main scan)
We have simply, in this case, followed the course that has been pursued in every instance since I have been here, and I have been on a number of conference committees; and there are many Senators who have been here longer than I have who have been on conference committees and have had the same experience. We have simply, in this case, followed the practice that has occurred in the Senate all along. We have been ready to meet with the House conferees whenever they indicated that they were ready to meet with us. I would ask older Senators who have had experience on conference committees to give their experience in this matter. I am sure the Senate conferees are not in fault. We have been ready at any time to meet with the House conferees.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
l\Ir. REED. l\fr. President--
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
- l\Ir. Only one scan has this word: “l\Ir.” (main scan)
- l\fr. Only one scan has this word: “l\fr.” (main scan)
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Illinols yield to the Senator from Missouri?
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
- Illinols The scans read: “Illino!s” (microfilm scan), “Illinols” (main scan)
Mr. CULLOM. For any further explanation I am entirely willing to yield, as far as I am concerned.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
Mr. REED. My attention has just been called to this situation by a Member of the House of Representatives. It seems •that the chairman of the House committee, Congressman RucKER, was called to Kansas to attend the funeral .of former Representative MITCHELL, who died in the service a few days ago, and that Mr. Rucker was delayed a day or two longer than he expected, but the advice from his office is that he will be here tomorrow. I say that in justice to the chairman of the committee of the House and probably it will throw some light on the delay.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
Mr. BORAH. It was not my purpose--
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
Mr. REED. I have just been informed by the Senator from Louisiana [Mr. FOSTER] that his information is that Judge RucKER has actually arrived in the city. If that is true, I am sure Judge Rucker will not willingly delay the matter.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image
Mr. BORAH. I only wish to say, Mr. President, that I was not intending to criticize the · committee. I thought a situation had arisen which ought to be discussed. Possibly it was a different situation than I thought it was. It seems to have simplified itself, and it may not be necessary to call it up again.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 2940). View the page image