The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-28
WILL REBUKE BOTH
CENSURE WILL BE VISITED UPON
UNRULY SENATOR'S.
SUBJ COMMITTEE so AGREES.
DEMOCRATS FAVOR CAUsTIC REP
REMAND.

Beveridge, McCOmas and other Re-
publicans Are in Favor of Suspen-
sion, but Democrats Would Resist
This, which Would Mean Endless
Debate and Delay of the Senate's
Business-NO Apologies Are Desir-
ed-President of the senate win
Have the Duty of Delivering the
Censurc.
Washington, Feb. 27.-The sub COM
mittee of the Senate Committee ON
Privileges and Elections, which was
appointed yesterday to formulate a
proposition for the proper punishment
of Senators Tillman and McLaurin of
South Carolina for their offense to
the Senate of last Saturday, to-day
practically concluded to recommend
that the two senators be servely cen
sured for their conduct and ITO limit
the punishment to censure.
The subcommittee consists of Sena-
tors Burrows, Hoar and Foraker Re-
publicans; and Senators Pettus and
Bailey, Democrats. All were present
at the early part of the meeting, but
Senator Bailey was compelled by in
disposition to leave the conference be-
fore it's close.
To-day's meeting was a very har-
monious one and little difference of
opinion developed The Republican
members of the subcommittee did not
themselves contend for a resolution
suspending the two senators, but rep
resented that there were some Repub-
lican members of the full committee
who adhere to the opinion that through
suspension only can adequate punish
ment be melted out to the offenders.
Senator Beveridge is understood to be
among the most strenuous advocates
of this form of proceeding and Sen
ator McComas is inclined to agree with
him. Some doubt is expressed whether
they will unite in "a report limiting the
punishment to censure.
On the other hand some of the Dem
ocratic members made it very plain
that they not only would not agree in
committee to the reporting of a resolu-
ton of suspension, but that if such a
resolution should be presented to the
Senate by a majority of the commit
tee, they would resist it's adoption by
the Senate to the extent of insisting
upon prolonged debate. The Republic
can members of the committee. 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 hav-
ing a pronounced influence on the
disposal of the question. They rec
ognize the fact that if so disposed the
minority can obstruct all legislation
for an indefinite time, and probably
pOnfin1p the nrnSanf Of
gress far into the summer. Some of
them also hold the view that censure
is more severe and certain form of
punishment than suspension.
To Punish Both the Same.
These are the reasons which have led
the Republican members of the sub
committee to agree to a resolution of
cenSure, and nothing is left to COM
plete the proceeding but to secure the
assent of their Republican colleagues
who are not members of the sub-com-
mittee. The matter has been left open
for consultation with them, and while
the full committee has been called to
meet tomorrow at 10:30 o'clock. the
sub committee will meet half an hour
previous to that time. This will afford
opportunity to notify the Democrats If
there should be a change of pro-
gramme.
There has been considerable discus
sion Of the matter of a differentiation
of the punishment of the two senators,
some of the Republican members hold
ing out strongly for a more severe re-
huke to Senator Tillman than to Sena-
tor McLaurin, because they hold that
his offense of striking a fellow senator
was greater than that of his colleague,
who gave the pIovocation to the blow.
but this course has been practically
abandoned so far the subcommittee
is concerned, and both will be equally
reprimanded. 1t also has been virtually
decided that no apology
shall be exaCted from the
senators, the reason for eIin1ina ting
any requirement of that kind being
found in the fact that senator gener-
ally fear such enforced apologies
might not amount to apologies after
all
The Democratic members Of the
committee have suggested than the
censure should be in very severe lam
guage, and, If anything, havefbeen in
clined to be more caustic than their
Republican colleagues. 1t is the de-
sire of all the members Of the COM
mittee TO find a course of action that
will be acceptable to the entire SEN
ate, and the only difficulty now ap-
pears to be to secure the consent of
those Republicans who believe the oc-
casion calls for more than mere words
of rebuke. The resolution VIII impose
on the President of the Senate the task
OF administering the reprimand.