Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-03-07
HAVE THEIR WAY
BUT ARE SETTING DANGEROUS
PRECEDENTS.

BUT ARE SETTING DANGEROUS
PRECEDENTS.
The Republican Majority in Congress is ObIivi.
Gus Of Results in Their Disposition to Rule
Disfranchise a Sovereign State for Hot.
BIooded Acts Of Its Senatorial Representa-.
tives-Republicans nopeIessIy Divided on
Cuban Reciprocity Prince Henry Visits
Congress.
Vrom our regular correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1902.
Republican au:ocracy with many of
its attendant evils has marked the
course of events in Washington during
the past week, and scenes have been
enacted in the United States Senate
chamber more disgraceful than any
that have violated the dignity of that
body since the exciting days immedi.
ately before the war. The two Sena-
tors from South Carolina, Tillman
and McLaurin, have engaged in a per-
sonal encounter on the floor of the
Senate, Wellington and McComss OF
Maryland have INDUCED in ACCUSE
tons and recriminstions which must
have ended in violence but for the
prompt suppression of the former BY
the chair and, as if 10 create Q fitting
climax to these deplorable happenings,
the President of the Senate, Mr.. Frye
of Maine, by an assumption of auto
cratic power never equalled in the ma.
tional Legislature, caused to be
stricken from the rolls the names of
the Senators from South Carolina.
As soon as order could be restored
after the brawl engaged in by the
South Carolina Senators on last Sat-
urday, the Senate went into executive
session and unanimously adjudged
the offenders Gin contempt" On
Monday when the roll was called on
an amendment to the Lodge Philip
pine bill, it became evident that Sena.
tor Frye had erased the names of the
South Carolinisns from the rolls and
an immediate protest was entered by
the Democrats. Mr.. Bailey of Texas
appealed in an eloquent speech to the
Republican majority not to establish
such q precedent. By An extremely
logical presentation of the law he
demonstrated the unconstitutionality
oil the action OF the chair. Pledging
the Democrats to act with the Repub.
licans in imposing any proper punish
hn fnr k,~ kuA IL
ed the rules OF the Senate, he begged the
Republicans not to violate the consti-
tuition and insult the State of South
Carolina by DISTINGUISHING her. Ad-
hitting that by . two-thirds vote the
Senate might expel the offenders from
membership, because then the Cover
nor of their State could send others to
take their places and "the sovereign
State would not be deprived of her
voice in the Senate" he proved that if
it lay within the power of the Senate
to deprive State Of suffrage for day
it might do it for years and, in fact,
the majority could, according to this
precedent, declare every member of
the minority "in contempt" and 80
bar every Democratic State from voice
or vote in the proceedings. Senator
Bailey's argument was clear, concise
and eloquent, but his words fell upon
ears that heard not and in the midst
of his speech the chair recognized q
motion from Senator Aldrich 10 pro-
coed with the regular order, the prece.
dent was established and several votes,
including the final ballot by which
the Lodge bill was passed, were taken
without South Cardinals having an
opportunity to vote yea or nay.
On Tuesday, Senator Frye, evident.
ly appalled, ut his work, announced
unofficislly that he had restored the
missing names to the Senate rolls but
expressed the opinion that they would
not be permitted to vote. 1t is feared
the matter will not end until bitter
controversy has taken place in the
Senate. There is no attempt to palli.
ate the offense OF the South Carolins
Senators, AZ shown by the readiness to
vote for the resolution declaring them
in contempt and by the further ex-
preston, by several Democratic Seus.
tors, Of the hope that, when this con.
troversy is ended, they will both have
the good taste to resign; but the blow
at the rights of . sovereign State and
at the constitution itself is one that
the Democrats in Congress cannot
permit to pass without . struggle.
The Democrats OF both Houses are
aghast ct the length to which the Re-
publicans in the Senate have gone. A
Democratic Representative said to me
yesterday, 81 regard it rs an outrage
on the people of South Caroliua and
on the whole United States."
The Senate held very brief sessions
on Tuesday and Wednesday, no busi-
ness being transacted, and it is hoped
that the Committee on Rules and
Privileges will report tomorrow in ia.
vor OF some action that will be accep-
table to both parties.
The Republicans who have been in.
clined 10 speak with derision Of the
alleged lack of harmony in Demo-
cratic ranks are realizing the position
OF people who live in glass houses this
week for the Republican members OF
so0 AAouoO ~ prescribing - oSO ePcCt2.
Gle in their division over the question
Of Cuban reciprocity. The Republi.
can members of the Ways and Means
Committee adopted . resolution ia
voring concession Of 20 per cent. of
the Dingley tariff rates in return for
similar concessions from Cuba and de-
termined TO submit their decision to .
caucus. The caucus met on Tuesday
evening, and no sooner had Chairman
Payne read bill which he had pre.
pared in accordance with the conclu-
sions arrived at, than half OF the mem.
bers present were on their feet and
pandemonium was let loose. A bill
was presented by Representative Taw.
ney OF Minnesota which provided that
20 per cent. Of the duties collected on
imports from Cuba should be paid into
the Cuban trrasury and, OF that
amount, all that had been collected
on Cuban sugar and tobacco should be
returned by the Cuban government 20