The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-02-26
PHILIPPINE Bill PASSED BY SENATE
The Republicans Carry Their Point
---Trillman and McLaurin not AL
lowed to Vote on Account Of
Their Pagilistic Encoun-
+or

suOl A9uls0GdS 6nOV0u
Ter.
Washington, Feb. M.-After eight
hours Of tumultuous debate today the
senate, shortly before Z o'clock this
evening, passed the Philippine tariff
bill by a vote of 46 to 26, a strictly
party vote. Mr. Tillman and Mr..
McLaurin, the two senator's from
South Carolina. who on Saturday last
were declared by the senate to be IN
contempt because of their fight in the
chamber, were not permitted by voice
or by vote to participate in the pro-
ceedings.
The question as to their right to
vote precipitated sharp debate last
ing nearly tYc hours.
The president pro tempore, Mr.:
Frye, held that the two senator's could
not vote and ne was sustained by a
majority of the senate.
Both of the South Carolina senators
were on the floor when the. senate was
called to order. Mr.. McLaurin came
in first and Mr.. TiIlman just as the
chaplain offered prayer. A small
bunch of red roses and white carna-
tions lay on Mr.. Tillman's desk:
An echo of the sensational fight OF
Saturday was heard at the conclusion
Of routine business.
Nh. qPritchard, Republican of North
Carolina, submitted the following let;
ter which was read at the clerks desk:
Washington, Feb. "a, 1902.
To Hon. J. G. Pritchard, United
States. Senator, Washington.
Ny Dear Sir: I was prevented, as
YOU know, from Offering the resolution
which I wrote at my desk on Saturday
demanding an. Investigation Of the
charges made BY my, colleague by
being adiudged in contempt Of the
senate. I am low debarred the prlvl-
lege and reQuest you to introduce the
resolution for the reason that if the
charges are true I am unfit to remain
a member of the senate, and if they
are untrue the man who made them is
unfit to be member of this honora-
BILE body. In any event, I feel that I
am entitled to vindication by the
same body that makes Investigations in
the proceedings for contempt. [ here
with enclose the resolution. Yours
very truly,
Mr.. Pritchard then offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Whereas, the senior senator from
the State. of South Carolina charged
in a speech on the floor of the senate
that the junior senator from the same
State had been Improperly Influenced
in casting his vote for. the ratification
of the treaty Of peace between the
United Sattes and Spain; and
Whereas, the said charge was
emphatically denied by the junior
senator,
Resolved, That the committee OF
privileges and elections be directed to
Investigate and report as to the truth
Of the said charges, with full power to
send for persons and papers. 30
On motion of Mr.. Hale the resolu-
tion was referred to the committee on
privileges and elections.
Mr.. Turner sought to secure recog-
milton in order to have spread On the
records protest of Mr.. Tillman, but
the privilege was denied at that
time and the senate proceeded to the
consideration of amendments to the
Philippine bill.
The protest which Senator Tillman
today endeavored through Senator
Turner to present to the senate is in
part as follows:
"The undersigned, holding COM
mission in this body from the sover.
eien State of South Carolina as one of
it's senator's, and having been in the
full and undisputed exercise of that
high Office for seven years last past,
solemnly protests against depriving
him OF the right as such senator to
vote on the pending measure and to
take part generally in the proceedings
of the senate and he respectfully asks
that this, his protest, may be spread
on the journals Of the senate.
s"While it is true that the under
signed has been adjudged to be in con-
tempt Of the senate for disorder COM
mitted in its presence on the last legis-
lative day before this, an act commit
ted in the heat of blood and which he
regrets and has apologized for, that
incident has passed and gone, and he
is now in his place as senator,
desirous of proceeding in order and IN
accordance with the rules of the SEN
ate, in the performance of the high
duties entrusted to him by the author.
ity and under the seal of the State OF
South Carolina.
Sin making this protest the under
signed is not moved by considerations
personal to himself. He is not rest
I've under the just discipline of this
body. He is ready to cheerfully accept
such order as it may make. for the
vindication of its rights and its dig
,uity. But until that order shall have
been made, and until it shall have
adiudged his expulsion, if the senate
thinks his offense merits that punish
ment, he cannot silently permit his
State to be deprived of its full con-
stitutional representation on the floor
of this chamber, which is most notably
exemplifed in its right through its
senators to vote and speak upon every
measure before it,
ae1cc cT0uE DEL EASE0