The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-23

| this thing pass, Mr.. President"
s.Sfr. President" said Mr. Gallirgel
again. Il ask that the doors might b
: closed"
Mr. President said sir. Foraker. vhc
had moved into tie nam aisle. Il novs
that the senate go into executive ses
sion"
Without comment. every senator still
laboring 1nder the emotion which all en-
deasored TO conceal. the motion was
agreed to and at 2:52 the doors were
closed
The proceedings after the doors were
closed covered almost two hours OF time
and resulted in the adoption OF a resoIu-
ton in the form OF an order, as fol-
lows:
Ordered, THAT the two senators from
the state of South Carolina, be declared
in contempt OF the senate on account OF
| an alteration and personal encounter
between them this day in open session,
and that the matter be referred to the
committee on privileges and elections. TO
| report what action shall be taken by
the senate in regard thereto
! The discussion which occurred IN the
secret session was based largely on the
foregoing. the first suggestion of which
was made by Mr.. Foraker. IN present
! ing the resolution the doors were closed.
! Mr.. Foraker took occa sion TO remark
4 that the occurrence had been an outrage
| upon the dignity of the senate, OF which
| the senate should take cognizance
Mr.. Hoar endorsed the resolution Of
1 Mr.. Foraker but said he thought the ac-
/ tion Of the senate should be more ex-
plicit than contemplated by the resolu-
( ton. He moved. therefore, to amend it
/ by ordering that the two senators from
! South Carolina be declared in contempt
/ by the senate for disorderly conduct
and speech in its presence, and that
both should be taken in custody. In
support OF this amendment he said that
any court or any other parliamentary
| body would commit men for so grave
| an offense against its dignity, to await
its Judgment.
Mr. Blackburn and other senators then
stated that the two South Carolina sena-
tors were willing to apologize and thus
purge themselves of the contempt, and
in view of this statement Mr.. Hoar with
drew the portion of his amendment pro-
viding for their commitment
Mr.. Foraker then accepted the amend
ment OF Mr.. Hoar and il was embodied
in the resolution. Before the vote was
taken a number Of senator's spoke, and,
while there We're many kind utterances
regarding both senator's there was no ex-
ception in the opinions expressed as 10
the gravity and seriousness of the offense
Among the senators who thus delivered
themselves We're Messrs. Teller. Fair
banks, Hanna. Blackburn and Spooner
Mr.. Hanna suggested that. serious as
had been the offense, it was not SO grave
as the charge of misconduct made against
Mr.. McIaurin, and he thought that any
investigation undertaken should extend
TO that matter.
Mr.. Teller, while uniting with other
senator's in deprecating the occurrence,
said that it was not unprecedented: that
there had been other similar affairs on
the floor Of the senate and, instanced.
among others. the encounter between
Senators Benton and Foote. lie also sug-
gested that Mr. Spooner was not en-
tirely blameiess for tOday's occurrence
because by his interrogatories he had
provoked Mr.. Tillman TO make explicitly
the charges which had been but vaguely
made before his interference in the de-
bate.
a motion was made by Mr.. Teller look
ing to the opening of the doors. This was
voted down, Is to 42. The Republican
senators generally expressed themselves
as willing to hear the apologies promised,
but generally insisted that there should
first be action on the resolution.
On the suggestion OF Mr.. Bacon there
was a division Of the two branches Of
the question. The first vote was taken
on the declaration that the two sena-
tors were in contempt end it prevailed
by q unanimous vote of 81 to nothing
on a roll call. The remainder of the res
olution, referring to the committee on
privileges and elections was adopted
without a roll call.
Both the South Carolina senator's re-
mained in their seats during the entire
session.
After the secret session, the senate at
SIS resumed business in open session. Mr.. !
Blackburn made statement Of what had
been done IN executive session and 4
asked whether any statement could be
made in open session by either Of the
senators while they were in contempt OF /
the senate. There was q lengthy dis (
cussion. and finally President Pro Tenn (
Frye ruled
While these two senators are de- /
clared TO be in contempt the chair could /
not recognize either; but on motion made
by any senator that they be heard the 4
chair would recognize the senator max
ing the motion and would hold that the
motion was in order In the ordinary
Of rules or violation Of or
der. the senator violating Il must take
his chair. and he cannot be recognized F
BY the presiding officer again until the
chair has relieved him OF that by motion
Of course. the senators from South Caro-
lima can be relieved from the condition
in which they are so far as recognition
By the chair Is concerned. by a motion
and by a majority vote Of the senate.
What VIII happen after the two sena-
tors have pursed themselves SO far as IL
IS possible, OF the cantempt, the chair
will be prepared TO rule whenever the
question is raised
At the conclusion OF the ruling Of Mr..
Frye. Mr.. Blackburn said:
II move that the senior senator from
South Carolina be given the floor
why one senator from South Caro-
inae" interjeeted Mr.. SDooner.
II move that the two senators from
south Carolina began AT. Blackburn
That's right" said AIr. Spoouer.
"Be given the aoor." continued Mr. !
Blackburn. ito make any statement. IN
heir own way. to purge themselves of
Die contempt
The motion was carried
in bresthiess silence. NJ TfIimsn
-oss u address TIE senate He vas
alm aud collected. ard gave 10 indics-