The age-herald., 1902-02-28
CENSURE WILL
 BE PUNISHMENT Senate Committee Agrees on TiInan- MCLaurin Case MEETING WAS HARMONIOUS Suspension Idea Has Been Abandoned and There VIII Probably be No
 Discrimination Between the
 Two Guilty Senators.
MEETING WAS HARMONIOUS

Washington, February 27.-The sub committee of the Senate committee on privileges and elections which was ap- pointed yesterday to formulate propo- sition for the proper punishment of Sena- tors Tillman and McLaurin of South Carolina for their offense to the Senate of last Saturday, today practically con- cuded to recommend that the two Sena- tors be severely censured for their con duct. and to limit the punishment to cen- sure.
 The subcommittee consists of Senators Burrows, Hoar and Foraker, Republi- cans, and Senators Pettus and Bailey, Democrats. Senator aBiley was compelled by indisposition to leave the conference before its close.
 Today's meeting was a very harmonious one and little difference of opinion devel- oped. The Republican members of the subcommittee did not themselves con- tend for a resolution suspending the two Senator's but reported that there was some Republican members of the full committee who adhere to the opinion that through suspension only can adequate punishment be meted out to the offending members. Senator Beveridge Is under stood to be among the most strenous ad- vocates of this form of proceeding and Senator McComas is inclined to agree with him. Some doubt is expressed as to whether they will unite in report limit ing the punishment to censure.
 Suspension Out of Question.
 On the other hand some of the Demo- cratic members made 1t very plain that they not only would not agree in commit tee to the reporting of a resolution of sus- pension, but that if such a resolution should be presented to the Senate by a majority of the committee they would resist its adoption by the Senate to the extent of insisting upon prolonged debate The Republican members Of the commit tee and also many Republican Senators who are not members of the committee have given very serious attention to this possibility of delay in the Senate, and there is no doubt that it is having a pro- nounced influence on the disposal of the question. They recognize the fact that if so disposed the minority can obstruct all legislation for an indefinite time and prob ably continue the present session of Con gress far into the summer. Some of them also hold the view that censure Is a more severe and certain form of punishment than suspension. The matter has been left open for consultation with the other Republican members of the committee and while the full committee has been called to meet tomorrow at 10.30 o'clock 11a c,th N,o1 previous to that time.
 No Discrimination.
 There has been considerable discussion of the matter of a differentiation of the punishment of the two Senator's some of the Republican members holding out strongly for a more severe rebuke to Senator Tillman than to Senator McLau- rin, because they hold that his offense of striking fellow Senator was greater than that of his colleague, who gave the provocation for the blow. but this course had practically been abandoned, so far as the subcommittee is concerned, and both will be equally reprimanded. It also has been virtually decided that no apol- ogy shall be exacted from the Senators. the reason for eliminating any require ment of that kind being found in the fact that Senators generally fear such enforced apologies might not amount to apologies after all.
 The Democratic members of the com mittee have suggested that the censure should be in very severe language, and, if anything. have been inclined to be more caustic than their Republican col leagues. It Is the desire of all the mem bers of the committee to find course of action that will be acceptable to the en- tire Senate, and the only difficulty now appears to be to secure the consent of those Republicans who believe the occa- sion calls for more than mere words of rebuke. The resolution will impose on the President of the Senate the task of administering the reprimand.