The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-03-06
ARE CENSUl l4b BY THE SENATE.

majority of the committee, Of equal
gravity.
"Mr. McLaurin did not commence the
encounter but only stood In his place
at his desk, where he was speaking ana
resisted the attack that was made upon
him. In other words his offense Was
confined to the use CT unpariliamentaTy
language, for which he had unusual
provocation. Nevertheless, his offense
was a violation OF the rules of the SEN
ate Of so serious character that IN
the opinion OF the committee 1t should
be condemned.
THE GREATER OFFENSE.
"In the case of Mr.. Tillman, the
record shows that the alteration was
commenced by the charge he mace
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 in
vestigate but also disclaiming knowl-
edge of evidence to establish the Of
fense and this he said after the charge
had been specifically and unqualiiedly
denied by Mr.. McLaurin.
"Such a charge, under any circum-
stances, would be resented by any man
worthy to be a senator; but, made as 1t
was in this instance, its offensiveness
was greatly intensified. This feature
OF his offense, coupled with the fact
that he also commenced the encounter
by quitting his seat some distance
away from Mr.. McLaurin, and. rushing
violently upon him, struck him in the
face, makes the cause one of such ex-
ceptional misbehayior that a majority
Of the committee are Of the opinion
that his offense was Of such greater
gravity than that OF Mr.. McLaurin.
CANNOT GRADE THE CENSURE.
The penalty Of a censure by the
senate in the nature Of things must
vary in actual severity in proportion TO
the public sense of the gravity OF the
offense of which the offender has been
adjudged guilty. Therefore. notwith-
standing the fact that in the opinion
of a majority OF the committee there Is
a difference in the gravity OF the Of
fenses under consideration your COM
mittee are of the opinion that publ:
good and the dignity Of the senate will
be alike best promoted and protected,
so far as this particular case Is con-
cerned, by imposing upon each senator
by formal vote the censure OF the SEN
ate for the offense by him committed
and therefore, recommend the adop-
tion Of the resolution"
At the conclusion Of the reading OF
the majority report. Mr.. Bailey OF Tex
as, offered the following statement as
representing the views Of himself and
four other senator's:
MILD DEMOCRATIC DISSENT.
1--WE dissent from SO mush OF the re-
port OF the committee as asserts the
power Of the senate to suspend a SEN
ator and thus deprive State OF its
vote, and so much as describes the Of
fenses of the senators as OF different
gravity; but we approve the resolu-
tion reported"
The report Of the minority Of the
committee then was read.
In this statement the senators sign
ing 1t say that while they accept the
statement Of the case as made In the
principal report they do not agree with
the majority of the committee as to
the punishment proposed by the ma
jority. They then say:
REPUBLICAN MINORITY NOT SAT,
ISFIED.
"The junior senator from South Car
olina is guilty of unparliamentary Ian
guage. The senior senator from South
Carolina is guilty OF physical violence
| Neither in the statutes Of any State OF
/ in the common opinion Of mankind are
/ these two offenses the same. The slight
! est form Of punishment is reprinand
( or censure. 1t is the latter which tha
majority proposes to i1fiict for two Of
! fenses differing in character and gray
! ity. The minoity Of the committee are
cf the opinion that this punishment is
adequate. and that to ignore the differ
ence between the offenses is unjust
The minority Of the committee is Of tie
opinion that suspension of the two Of
Tending senators from their senatorial
privileges heretofore inflicted should
now be formally adjudged and contin-
ued for different periods of time"
The report concludes by recommend
ing that Senator McLaurin be suspend
ed from bis functions as a senator for
five days and that Senator Tillman be
suspended for twenty days.
Mr.Pritchard's adoption to the above
statement is In the following language:
Il concur in all the foregoing views
except as to the punishment Of the
junicr seratcr from South Carolina 1t