Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-03-02
His OHense Considered Gravest Be
cause He was fhe Ae-
OPINION OF THE DEMOCRATS

:
Washington, March with word
of eensurc for both senators, the Till
man McLaurin incident was closed by
he senate yesterday, and tat brdy
again turned its attention to public
business.
When the senate was called to ~
der a notably large attendance Of
senators was on the floor, and the gal
leries were thronged. 10th Senators
MeLaurin and Tillman. Of Sou. Caro-
lima, were in their seats.
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, chairman
of the committee on privileges and
elections, presented the following tes-
Cution upon the controversy arising
cut of the personal altercatten on the
floor of the senate betwahn Senators
Tillman and McLaurn:
That in the judgment Of the senate
that the senaors from South Ca olina,
Benz r. Til1man and John l. McLau-
rim. for disordcrly behavior and fla
grant violation Of the rules oI the
senate during the open session of the
senate on the 22d day of February,
instant, deserve the ccnsure OF this
senate, and they are hereby so ecu
sured for their breach of the priv,f
Ieges and dignity of this body; and
from and after the adoption of this
resolution the order adjudging them
in contempt shall be no longer in
force and effect.
Majority Reoort.
After the reading of the resolution
by the clerk Mr.. Burrows presented
the report of the majority of the COM
mittce
The report rccited the history of the
alteration in the senate, and quoted
the language then used by the offend.
ers. All agreed to this statement The
report continued as follows:
That the conduct Of the two sena-
tors was an infringement of the priv
iges of the senate, violation of it's
rules and derogatory to it's high char.
aeter, tending to bring the body itself
into public contempt, cannot be quee'
toned or denied. Indeed the senate
by a unanimous vote has already
ploc ced on record it's condemnation of
tho senators by declaring both guilty
Of contempt. The majority OF the
committee are Of opinion that the
legal effect of Judging these senators
in contempt of the senate was to sus.
pend their functions as senators and
that such punishment for disorderly
behavior was clearly within the power
Of the senate. but the conclusion they
have reached makes it unnecessary tC
discuss this question. Tie ofenscs
committed by the two senators were
not. in the opinion of the majority Of
the committee. Of equal gravity. The
charge made by Mr.. Tillman had been
once before the senate specifically de
nied in parliamentary language by
Ar. zMcLaurin. The offense charged
2 gainst Mr.. McLaurir was among the
r,r.,t rl7,rabop-ih1o q cpnator could
commit Mr.. McI.aurin did not COM
mence the encounter but only stood ir
his place at his desk whore he was
speaking and resisted the attack made
,.Y,c. am T. - Ho .. u. :. nffnnsa
u as oonlIned 10 tie use or unparIia
mentary language, for which he had
unusual provocation. Nevertheless,
his ossenso was a violation of the
rules Of the senate Of SO serious
character that in the opinion Of the
committee It should be condemned.
IN the case of Mr.. Tillman, the rec
ords showed that the alteration wac
commenced by the charge he made
against Mr. McLaurin. Such charge
is inexcusable except in connection
with a resolution to investigate. Mr..
Tillman not only made the charge
without any avowal of purpose to
investigate, but also disclaiming
knowledge of evidence. to establish
the offense and this / said after the