The Washington times., 1902-02-24
STORMY EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Democrats Believe n Lenient Course
should BE Followed.

should BE Followed.
The full story of the secret legislative
session after the brawl is now becoming
known. 1t was at times a most stormy
meeting, with little regard for the rules
of procedure. The session developed quite
clearly what has since shown itself out
side, that there is a party division re-
garding the affair.
No member of the Senate on either side
has expressed the belief that the Senators
were not in contempt, but the Democrats
generally are more disposed to believe
that lenient course should be pursued
in the punishment of the offenders.
As soon as the doors of the Senate
chamber closed upon the galleries half a
dozen Senators attempted to address the
Chair at the same time. The dignified at
titude of Senators while in the presence
of spectators and during the exciting
scene through which they had just passed
was changed.
This was partially due to the fact that
the few moments required to get the
spectators out of the galleries enabled
Senators to realize what had been done.
and to arouse them to a sense of their
outraged dignity and the affrort that had
been put upon the august body.
Resolutions Prepared.
Senator Foraker hastily prepared res
olution declaring the two Senators in con-
tempt because of their alteration and
personal encounter" Meanwhile Sena-
tor Hoar had prepared another resolu-
~ lar rir in
recting that they be placed under arrest
and put into the custody of the Sergeant
at-Arms OF the Senate. This resolution
was read. but several objections were Of
fered to its form and protests made by
some members. VINO thought the text of
the resolution too drastic.
During the discussion that followed, by
tacit consent this resolution was lost
sight of and the idea of putting the two
Senator's under arrest was abandoned.
Senator Hoar. however. believed that the
resolution of the Senator from Ohio did
not go far enough. He said that the de-
gree of contempt must be ascertained and
the whole matter laid before the Senate
in proper form.
This. he pointed out, could only be done
through committee action, and he moved
that the resolution be amended SO as to
refer the case to the Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections.
The amended resolution was agreed to,
but not until after a discussion i'll which
some animated speeches were made and
some plain talk INDUCED in by Senators
who deplored the affront that had been
put upon that body. which they declared
was deliberative one that had not been so
smirched since ante-bellum days, when
men were wont to lose their temper and
indulge in statements that invariably les
sened the public respect for the Senate Of
the United States.
Senators Discuss 1t.
This discussion was participated in by
Senators Foraker. sDooner. Hoar. Fair
banks, Hanna. Aldrich, Burrows, Bate.
Berry, Pacon, Blackburn. Teller and 9TH
ers There was no disagreement on the
proposition that both Senators had been
guilty of most grave breach of decorum.
and that they must purge themselves OF
the offence.
The political test came when Mr.. Teller
moved that the vote be taken on the sub
iect to refer to the committee in open ses-
sion. This motion was defeated by prac-
tically a party vote, Mr.. SpoOner. of all
the Republicans, voting with the Demo-
Gratis, and Mr.. Mallory, of Florida. voting
with the Republicans. This vote was 4
to 16. The Democrats having thus been
voted down, the order OF the Senate as
prepared by Mr.. Foraker and amended by
Mr.. Hoar was agreed to by vote of 61
to o.
In the discussion Senator Foraker re
ferred to the standing the Senate had
among the great deliberative bodies of the
world and characterized the affront placed
upon ii as one that would tend to lessen
the respect Of other nations for The Re
public. which the Senate in great measure
represented.
Deplored Outbrcak.
He depIored it as did every other Sen
ator, and there was but one thing to do:
that was he said, to require the partici
pants in the quarrel to apologize. and SO
far as it was possible for them so to do.
to remove the stigma they had placed upon
the body Senator Foraker, along with
other Senators, expressed his respect for
both Senator'S, but frankly said that this
must not stand in the way of an atone
ment for an act that would bring the SEN
ate into disrepute
Senator Spooner regretted the fact that
he had innocently been the means of
forcing the condition of affairs. because
of the questions he had asked, but rec
ognized the fact that the personal en-
counter was so grievOus an offence that
it could not be overlooked.
There was much talk about the prece-
dents. Senator Aldrich frankly admitted
in executive session. as he did subse-
uuently in open session, that the present
case was without precedent. Never be-