The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-27
SENATE AT A STAND
REPUBLICANS HANDLE TILLMAN-
McLAURIN MATTER CAUTIOUSLY.
MAY BE A STUMBLING BLOCK.
CENsURE INSTEAD OF SUSPENSION
LIKELY TO BE PUNISHMENT.

priVing state of Its Represe ntn-
tion i'm the senate, Although They
Agree That the Offenders should
he Punished-RepubIica VIII In
sist on More Severe RebuIxe to
TiIIman Than 10 McLnurin--sub-
Committe Appointed aud VIII RE-
port Friday.
Washington, Feb. 26.-The meeting
of the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections this forenoon did not
result in supplying any solution of
the difficulty that the Senate is in In
connection with the Tillman- Me Lau-
rim matter. The Republican members
of the committee frankly confessed
that they had not been able to formu-
late a scheme which would relieve the
situa ton, and after less than an
hours discussion they asked that the
committee should adjourn until 2
o'c,ock this afternoon, the under
standing being that the Senate should
adjourn after brief session and thus
give the committee an opportunity to
fully consider this important question
which most senators look upon in its
present shape as a stumbling block in
the way of all other legislation.
Good Feeling in Committee.
The meeting of the committee was
marked by the best of feeling on the
part of all the members, and all agreed
readily to a preliminary suggestion by
Chairman Burrows. that the question
should be approached from purely
non-partisan standpoint, because of
its general Importance 1t was evident,
however that the Democrats were in
clined to apprehend some efforts at
political advantages on the part of the
Republicans and the channel through
which they expected this manifesto
tion soon became evident, when .Sena-
tor Foraker made the suggestion that
there should be a severer degree of
punishment meted out to Senator Till
man than to Senator McLaurn. Sem
ator Dubois met this suggestion with
a positive negative, and when the sug-
gestion was afterwards made that SEN
ator Tillmap should be called upon to
prove before the committee the charges
he had repeated in the Senate, that his
colleague had yielded to undue infu-
ence, there was a hint that If this mat
ter should be entered upon some sem
ators would insist upon the reopening
of the charges on file in the committee
in connection with the election of other
senators, which charges have never
been disposed Of
Won't submit to Suspension.
During the morning meeting Of the
committee Senator Bailey notified the
Republican members that the Demo-
,tex !. ,l1
Of a resolution suspending the South
Carolina senators. He said he agreed
that they should be punished for their
breach of the peace in the presence Of
the Senate, but he was satisfied that
the Democrats would not submit to
any proceeding which would deprive a
state of representation. Some of the
Republican members of the commit
tee replied that they agreed as to the
unwisdom and impracticabil of pro-
ceeding by way of suspension. While
no positive statement of policy was
made from the Republican side, there
was enough said to lead to the concIu-
sion that the proposed resolution for
suspension has been abandoned, and
that the punishment suggested will be
in the form of censure. Indeed some
Of the Republican members of the
committee say that this is practically
Republicans however, will contend for
more severe rebuke to Mr. Tillman
than shall be administered to Mr. Nc
Laurin. and the Democrats will resist
this discrimination. That is now the
point of greatest difference.
Matter Goes over Till Friday.
The Committee on Privileges and
Elections continued its consideration
of the Tillman McLaurin episode dur
ing the afternoon, but reached no con-
clusion beyond deciding to refer the
entire matter to a subcommittee and
to meet again on Friday to consider
any recommendation made by the sub
committee. The afternoon session last
ed three hours. and after the Demo-
cratic members took their departure
at o'clock, the Republicans continued
the sitting. The meeting of the full
committee was devoted to a general
exchange OF views. No vote was taken
on any proposition; indeed, no propo-
sition was made by either the majority
or the minority There was entire
agreement on one point, that both the
South Carolina senators should be pun
ished. but there was disagreement on
the details of punishment as well as
on the degree of II. The senators had
before them full reports Of the speeches
OF both the senators, making careful
comparison Of their language. Each
member was also provided a copy OF
the constitution and of the rules OF the
Senate, and these, az well as the es-
tablished parliamentary authorities,
were consulted frequently.
A half dozen different suggestions
were made as to modes Of punishment,
including suspension and censure by
the Senate, and censure with the added
requirement OF further apologies from
the offenders. There also was con-
tlnued discussion OF the relative pun
ishment OF the two men. Most OF the
Republican members Of the committee
hold that 10 Senator Tillman should be
awarded a more severe form OF rebuFe
than 10 Senator McLaurin, while the
Democrats do not generally concede
there should be discrimination.
Md Not wake specific Charges.
Senator Bailey quoted ~ length
from the speech made by Senator TIL
man. which provoked the reply of Ben-
nf0r Mci.auriu. eOntcndiuR that
n dld not make specific charge
N bribery The Democrats alsO held
out stlnly agninai aii guRFesii0ne iOok-
Inc 80 iho faHnf fnFisn ~ the privileges
~ the senator's aF aD attack 90 flf
rights 0f fhe state they represent. fafh-
~ Then ou thf senators themselves.
When fhs committee ad5purnnd ~
members pfoffaafd a. be hopfful fhnf
nn unanimous H4feeW0uf souId a.
ffafhfN bNi fhfF Her0 nNl ~ hnuefn
nf fhrY hNd boon nNeu fhH neon "a.
ffW 500 intff. fbe proceedings Nffl