The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-26

"CertalDly," said Mr.. Burrows, who hao
been endeavorng vainly to get the eye OF th
chair. "And the senate cannot let this thin,
pass, Mr.. President"
| "Mr. President" again said Mr.. Gallinger
81 asked that the doors be closed"
MOVED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
"Mr. President" said Mr.. Foraker, who bae
moved into the main aisle, II move mat tb
senate 20 into eXt cutlve session."
| Without comment, every senator lahorlnt
yet under the emotion which all endeavoret
! to conceal, the molten was agreed to and a
252 the doors were closed.
| The proceedings after the doors were CLOSED
covered almost two hours OF time and result
ed In the adoption of resolution In the Torn
OF an order, rs follows:
DECLARED IN CONTEMPT.
"Ordered, that the two senators from the
State of South Carolina be declared In con
tempt OF the senate on account OF the alterca
ton and personal encounter between then
this day In opr'. session, and that the matter
be referred IL the committee on privilee et
and elections with instructions 10 report
what action shall be tuken by the senate In
regard thereto"
The discussion W, .ch occurred in the secret
session was based largely upon the above
resolution, the first suggestion of which was
made by Mr.. Foraker. In presenting the
resolution Immediately after the doors OF the
chamber were closed, Mr.. Foraker took oc
,slon 10 remark that the occurrence bad
been an outrage upon the dignity of the
senate OF which the senate should take
cognizance.
HoAR WANTED THEIR ARREST.
Mr.. Hoar endorsed the resolution of Mr..
Foraker, but said he thought the action OF the
senate should be more explicit than con-
tenn mplated by the resolution. He therefore
,aA n hu nrIn hQt
senator's from South Carolina he declared In
contempt by the senate for disorderly con.
duct and speech In It's presence and that both
should be taken into custody. In support Of
this amendment. be said that any court or
any other parliamentary body would com NIT
men for so grave an offense against Its digin-
ity 10 await Its Judgment. The reference OF
the matter to 2 committee would be, he said,
on a line with courts reference to an
auditor or a referee. and the offenders should
be restrained during the Investigation.
THEY WANTED TO APoLoG1sE.
Mr.. Blackburn and other senators then
stated that the Two South Carolina senator's
themse Ives OF the contempt, apd IN view OF
this statement Mr.. HoAr withdrew the por-
ton OF his amendment providing for their
com % itment.
Mr. Foraker then accepted the amendment
OF MIR. Hoar and II was embodied In the reso-
luton. Before the vote was taken number
of senators spoke, and while there were many
kind utterauces regarding both senators
there was no exception In the opinions ex-
pressed as to the gravity and seriousness OF
The offense. Among the senator's who thus
delivered themselves were Messrs. Teller,
Fairbanks, Hanna, Black burn aud Spooner.
HANNA SUGGESTS INVESTIGATING TILL
MANS CHARGE.
Mr.. Hanna suggested that, serious as had
been the encounter In the senate, 1t was not
SO grave as the charge of misconduct made
against Mr.. NcLaurin end he thought that
an Investigation undertaken should extend
TO that matter.
Mr.. Teller while uniting with other sena-
tors in deprecating the occurrence said that
IL was not unprecedented, that there bad
been other similar affairs on the floor OF the
senate and ipStanced among others the en-
counter between Senators Benton and Foote.
He also suggested that MIR. SpooDer was not
entirely blaneless for today's occurrence be.
cause hy his interrogatorles he had proVok ed
Mr.. Tilman to make explicitly The charges
which had been but vaguely made before his
Interference In the debate.
Reply ing TO this state nent. Mr.. Spooper
said that he had been OF the opinion that Mr..
Tillman should either not make his charges
or move for an inquiry by the senate II II
believed them to be we'll founded.
There was much discussion as 10 whether
the vote on the Foraker amendment should
be taken in open or 10 secret session. A
motion was made by Mr. Teller, looking to
the opening of the doors. This was voted
down, Is 10 ~.
The Republican senator's generally express
ed thempelves as willing to hear the apologies
promised but generally insisted that there
should be first action upon the resolution.
THE SENATE UNANIMOUS.
On the suggestion Of Mr.. Bacon there was
division OF the two branches OF the question.
TIE first vote WAS taken on the declaration
"a he CDntpmnt.
IL prevailed by unanimous vote. OF 6l toO
on roll call. The remainder OF the resolu-
tion referring the matter 10 the committee on
privileges and elections was adopted without
q roll call.
Both the South Carolina senators remained
In their seats during he entire secret session.
They conferr'. occasionally with their
friends, but II 'ther made any altenp pt to ad-
dress the senate.
Alter the secret session the senate at Sis
resumed business In Gen session. Evidence
was abundant th' the secret session had
been more or less exciting. Nearly every
senator In the chamber was on his feet.
Groups OF EEL ators were gathered here and
there about the chamber all discussing The
portenlous event which had thrown the dig
nitied body into ferment.
BLACKBURN SPEAKS TO THE PUBLIC.
AS soon as order could he restored, Mr..
Black burn said that as the seal OF secrecy
had been removed from the secret session
lust held he was at liberty to SRy that during
that session he had made a statement 10 the
senate Of what the senator from South Caro-
lima (Mr. Tillman) was prepared and pleased
TO say to the senate. He explained that both
senators from South Carolina had been de.
clared by the senate TO be In contempt.
What he desired now 10 know, and he want
ed the chair 10 rule upon the point, was
whether any statement could be made to the
senate In open session by either of the sena-
tors while they we're in contempt OF the
senate.
NO STATEMENT WANTED.
MIR. Foraker interrupted to suggest that
unanimous consent be given 10 the senators
TO make their htatements.
Mr.. Black burn declined to hear for mo.
ment any suggestion that unanimous con.
sent be given them 10 address the senate.
That they were IN contempt all senators, all
The world, knew What he wanted TO know
was whether senators In contempt could nd
dress the senate, not as matter of courtesy.
but as q matter of right. On that point be
demanded ruling by the chair. The senior
senator from South Carolina (Mr. 'rillman),
he continued, was willing and anxious TO
make q statement to the senate, but ne want
ed to know how he could make 1t. The ac-
tion OF the senate In declaring MIR. Tilman
In contempt was, in his Judgment prelna
ture.
DISCUSSING THEIR STATUS.