Evening star., 1902-02-26
NO ACTION YET TAKEN
Disciplining Of the South
Carolina Senators.
CENSURE NOW FAVORED
DEMOCRATIC OBJECTION TO PRO-
POSED SUSPENSION.
Meeting Of the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections-The
Sentiment Developed.

The Senate committee on privileges and
elections met at 1890 o'clock this morning
to consider the Senate resolution adopted
by the Senate in secret session last Satur-
day directing that committee to consider
and report to the Senate what action
should be taken by the Senate in relation
to the alteration that occurred on that
day between the two South Carolina sena-
tors.
After being in session during an hour it
was seen that no agreement could be
reached in time for the meeting Of the Sem
ate today, and republicans and democrats
on the committee readily consented to an
adjournment of the Senate Immediately
after Its meeting until tomorrow. This de-
termination was reached upon the sugges-
tion Of the majority. it being stated that
there would probably be no failure of the
committee to reach some agreement if suf-
f1cient time were allowed for an exchange
of views.
Nearly every member of the committee
was present when Senator Burrows of
Michigan, the chairman, called the meeting
to order. Mr.. Burrows announced the pur-
pose of the meeting. and it at once became
evident from the opinions expressed In a
general way that more time than could be
had before the Senate was to meet would
IL.
Senators who took a leading part in the
discussion were Messrs. Burrows and For
aker republicans, and Messrs. Bailey and
Dubois. democrats.
Opposition to Suspension.
The democrats in their opposition plainly
indicated that they would resist to the ut
most any recommendation looking to the
suspension of the South Carolina senators
for any period Of time, even though it be
for single day, and also to any recon-
mendation that would bring greater CEN
sure on one the other Of the senators
who were implicated in the alteration.
The republican members of the commit
tee firmly believe with Senator Frye that
the Senate has a right to suspend, and a
very evident indication of feeling in ia
vor Of greater severity in the judgment
of the Senate in the case of Senator TILL
man than in that Of Senator McLaurin was
manifested. 1t was considered that these
senators were not equally culpable in
bringing on and carrying to the extreme
that 1T went the alteration Of last Satur-
day, and friends of Senator MacLaurin are
very anxious that the recommendation of
the committee should plainly indicate this.
The democrats showed such intense feel
Ing on the subject of making a difference
In the treatment Of the senators that 1T is
believed they will go to the greatest ex-
treme in order to prevent it. There is un-
dOubtedly little politics in this phase OF
the question, though the democrats assert
that they have not and will not permit any
political coloring to enter into their consid-
GRAFTON Of the matter. They, in a general
way. assert that the alteration was an
unfortunate one, the result Of uncontrolled
temper, and that both senators were SO
not consider any measure that would re-
fleet on one more than on the other.
The General Sentiment.
The general sentiment Of the meeting
was that the punishment of the senators
should be in the nature Of severe censure
on the part of the Senate, together with
a demand for such an apology the SEN
ate may determine upon from each Of the
South Carolina senator's. The question of
expulsion, while it has been talked Of in a
general way outside of the committee, was
not even brOa at the meeting this
morning. The republicans, however, will
make some further effort to carry their
point that the Senate has a right to sus-
pend senators from the privileges Of the
Senate, including the right to take part
and to vote, and that will be pressed upon
the committee further. Mr.. Bailey and
Mr.. Dubois both resisted this idea, as did
all of the democrats and 1t is understood
that they will resist it to the greatest ex-
tent within their power on the ground tina.
If the Senate can suspend senator for one
day 1t may suspend him for an unlimited
time.
The committee agreed to meet again at
o'clock this afternoon and to again take
up the matter. Some members Of the COM
mittee expressed the belief that they would
be able to reach an agreement before ad-
journing this afternoon, but there were
others who were not so sangnine and
thought that it would take longer time
to come to a conclusion as to the degree OF
punishment that is to be meted ou: to the
senators from South Carolina.
An agreement Of some kind by the COM
mittee was regarded as Of the utmost i'm
portance for the reason that should tho
discussion be carried into the Senate 1t
would cause a long and very unpleasant
debate and put back all legislation for a
considerable period of time.
Good Feeling Shown.
The meeting of the committee was
marked by the best of feeling on the part
of all the members and all agreed readily
to a preliminary suggestion by Chairman
Burrows that the question should be ap-
preached from purely non-partisan stand
point, because of its general importance
1t was evident however. that the demo-
Gratis were inclined to apprehend some ef-
fort at political advantage on the part Of
the republicans. and the channel through
which they expected this manifestation
soon became evident when Senator Foraker
made the suggestion that there should be
severer degree OF punishment meted out
to Senator Tillman than to Senator Nc
Laurin.
Senator Dubois met this suggestion with
a positive negative, and when the sugges-
tion was afterward made that Senator Till
man should be called upon to prove before
the committee the charge which he had re-
peated in the Senate that his colleague had
yielded to undue influence there was a hint
that IL this matter should be entered upon
some senators would insist upon the re-
opening Of the charges on file in the COM
mittee in connection with the election of
other senators. which charges have never
been disposed Of.
Senator Bailey notified the republican
members that the democrats would not
submit to the adoption Of a resolution sus-
pending the South Carolina senator's He
said he agreed that they should be pun
ished for their breach of the peace in the
presence Of the Senate, but he was satisfied
that the democrats would not submit to
any proceeding which would deprive state
of representation.
Some of the republican members of the
committee replied that they agreed as to
the unwisdom and impracticablity of pro-
ceeding by way Of suspension. The repub-
ltcans. however, will contend for more se-
we're rebuke to Mr.. Tillman than shall be
administered to Mr. 4cLaurin, and the