Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-02-28
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS FROM ACROSS THE
SOME OF ITS IMPORTANT NEW MEASURES

SOME OF ITS IMPORTANT NEW MEASURE
A Fist Fight, Following Serious Charges Be
tween South Carolina Senators the Event O
the Week-senators Declared in Contempt
The Philippine Tariff Bill Passed by tn,
senate-The Visit of Prince Henry Punish
ment of Pugilistic Senators Left to tn
Senate.
The Senate had the Philippine tariff
bill under discussion for more than six
hours Friday. Senator Spooner of Wis
consin defended the Republican atti.
tude toward the Philippine islands de.
nouncing the Democratic proposition
to eventually grant the Filipinos in
dependence and then for the United
States to withdraw from the islands.
Senator Tillman. Democrat, of South
Carolina, responded with an arraign-
ment of the administration in the is
lands. The House passed the Indian
appropriation bill. Senator Tillman
resumed his speech on the Philippine
tariff bill Saturday and after several
scathing charges against the admins
tration he accused the Republicans in
the Senate of having used improper in
fluences to secure votes enough to rat
ify the Paris treaty. Further argument
brought from him the statement that
the vote of his colleague, Mr.. McLaurin
of South Carolina in support of the
ratification of the treaty of Paris, had
been cast through the exercise of i'm
proper influences and that "the Fed
eral patronage of state has been par
celed out to a senator since the ratifi-
cation of that treaty.
Senator McLaurin then addressed
the Senate, reviewing Mr.. Tillman s
charges briefly and finally denouncing
the statement as 'wilful. malicious
and deliberate lie. - Scarcely had the
words fallen from his lips when Mr..
Tillman, sitting few seats from him,
with Mr.. Teller of Colorado between
them, sprang at him. Mr.. McLaurin,
who had half-turned toward Mr. Till
man, met him halfway, and in an in
slant the two senators, having swept
Mr.. Teller aside, were engaged in a
rough and-tumble fight Mr.. McLau-
rim received a heavy blow on the fore
head, while Mr.. Tillman got bad
punch on the nose which brought blood.
Assistant Sergeantat Arms Layton
sprang over the desks to reach and sep
arate the combatants and himself re-
ceived several blows. He got between
them finally and by main strength
wrenched them apart. Senators War
rem of Wyoming and Scott of West Vir-
ginia, two of the most powerful men
in the Senate, leaped to his assistance
and pinioned the arms of the belger-
fnrain IA 70 thatr
seats Intense excitement prevailed in
the Senate and galleries, which were
thronged with people who had been
attracted by the spirited debate
Finally order was restored partly, and
ir the midst of intense excitement, the
Senate went into secret legislative
session.
The Senate adopted resolution de-
Laurin in contempt. By vote each
each apologized for his actions.
After eight hours tumultuous de-
bate Monday the Senate passed the
Philippine tariff bill by vote of As to
rs, a strictly party vote. Mr. Tillman
and Mr.. McLaurin, the two senators
from South Carolina, who Saturday |
were declared by the Senate to be in
because of their fight in the |
chamber, were not permitted by voice
or vote to participate in the proceed
ings. The question as to their rights
to vote precipitated a sharp debate,
lasting nearly two hours.
The House Monday passed bill to
divide Texas into four judicial dis
tricts and also the Towney resolution,
calling on the secretary of war for in
concerning the transfer of
sugar lands in Cuba since the Ameri-
IAN occupation.
The galleries were packed all day in
of Prince Henry's visit.
hen he entered the gallery of the
House he was loudly applauded some
'enturing to give vent TO cheers. He
for ID minutes.
The names OF Tillman and McLaurin
we're restored to the roll of the Senate
Tuesday.
Senator Frye, president pro tenn. of
he Senate ordered this resolution for !
he purpose of shifting the RESPONSE
,ility of their punishment from the =
hair to the Senate. The recognition ;
# either of the two senators to either ),
ote or speak must be decided by the :
senate. A conference of Republican !
eaders Tuesday forenoon resulted in !.
he decision that the action of the !.
resident pro TEN. in striking the :
ames of the South Carolina senators !.
rom the roll and his refusal of re- :
uest to have their names called was
eyond precedent in the Senate and b
OF entirely justified. 1t was decided a
nat this particular phase of the ques- o
ion should be Immediately taken up e
y the committee on privileges and S
ections. II
The announcement of the death last "
III of Representative Crump of Mich G.
ran was followed by adjournment out s.
respect to deceased. The House
lssed the diplomatic and consular ap- n
.opriation bill. al
Notes. o.
The House committees on territories
riday unanimously voted to report =
lis for the admission to the union of :,
e territories of New Mexico, Arizona u
I'd Oklahoma and sub committees OF
i've been appointed to prepare such
lis. pI
The condition of things in Indian Ca
'rritory was brought up in the House al
Washington last week. 1t was de- ul
ared that 1897, 900 white men there y
d no voice in the government, and W.
600 children of school age had no a. a.
hools. The action of congress was Vi
that a territorial form of pc