The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-03-04

| Aiseu 10 HIS Request
for Theie withdrnwaI-Three Re-
ports From the Committee fin Adat
ton to the Committee MaIorttx
Report.
washington. February 2s.-Senators
McLaurin and Tillman, of South Caro-
lima. were today severely censured bv
the United States senate. The adp,,n- !
listration of the censure grew out Of the
sensational personal encounter between
tne two senators on the floor of the SEN
ate last Saturday during the consIdera
ton OF the Philippine tariff bill. The
Iadoption OF the resolution Of censure
probably closes the incident, so far as
Iohhcial action Of the senate is concern
led.
Immediately after the senate conycn-
led today Senator Burrows, chairman of
Ithe committee on privileges and cleo
Itions. to which the -Tillman
controversy had been referred. reported
the resolution OF censure framed by a
majority OF the committee. Accompa-
Inylng the resolution was a report mar
rating the events which led up to the
flight between the two senators and
lsetting out the conclusions of the ma
Ijority
A brief statement was presented by
Senators Bailey. Blackburn, Pettus, Nj
j. Foster and Dubois. democratic MEM
bers of the committee. dissenting from
some of the conclusions Of the majority.
They agreed, however to the resolution
Ioffered.
A minority report was presented 10y
Senators McComas, Beveridge and
Pritchard. republicans, who maintained
THAT the adoption of a resolution of
censure was not sufficient punishment.
| Practically there was no debate On he
resolution. although Senator Gallirgel
and Senator Platt of Connecticut made
lit evident in brief statements that the
resolution was not quite satisfactory to
Them. The resolution was adopted by
a vote of 81 to L.
| When Senator Tillman'S name was
called he added a new sensation to the
proceedings by rising and saying with
ill concealed emotion:
Among gentlemen an apology for an
IofenSe committed under heat of blood
lis usually considered sufficient
At the request Of Senator Burrows
1.-THE statement of Senator Tillman was
read by the clerk. Instantly the South
lCarolina senator disclaimed any inten-
ltion of being offensive to the senate
land said that if his words were SO ron-
lsidered he would withdraw them. The
lchair (Mr. Frye said that by unani-
nous consent they might be withdrawn,
lbut Senator Dietrich, of Nebraska, Oh
Iiected. The incident was closed with
IoLt further comment.
When the senate was called to order
to-day a notably large attendance Of
senators was on the floor. and the gal
IlerieS were thronged. Both Senators
McLaurin and Tillman. Of South Caro-
lima. were in their seats. Great inter
lest was manifested by senators on the
floor and by spectators in the galleries
in the reading of the journal which con
Itained the protest of Senator Ttllman
lagainst not being permitted to vote,
while under the ban Of the senate's or
der Of contempt.
The Majority Report.
Senator Burrows, of Michigan, chair
man of the committee on privileges and
elections. presented the following reso.
luton which had been formulated by
THAT committee:
THAT it is the judgment Of the sen
ate that the senators from South Caro-
lima. Benjamin r. Tillman and John l.
McLaurin. for disorderly behavior ano
fragrant violation of the rules of the
senate during the open session OF the
senate on the 22nd day Of February, de-
serve the censure of the senate anC
they are hereby so censured for thil
Ibreach of the privileges and dignity o
this body and from and after the adop
tion of this resolution the order adjudg
i-g them in cont, mpt of the senate sha-
be no longer in force and effect"
| nrpSantpd
Eof the majority of the committee which
Twas read.
The report recited the history OF tn
Ialterca ton in the senate and quoted tn
Language then used by the offenders
All agreed to this statement.
The report then continued as follows
THAT the conduct of the two senator
Twas an infringement of the privilege
Iuf the senate, a violation of its rule
land derogatory to it's high character
ltending to bring the body itself int
public contempt. cannot be questione
or denied Indeed. the senate. by
unanimous vote. has already placed o.
= record it's condemnation of the senator
l lby declaring both guilty Of contemp,
The majority Of the committee are q
, the opinion that the legal effect OF ao
T Judging the senators in contempt of tn
Isenate was to suspend their function
as senators and that such a punish
tmont Tor QlSOTOeTiy peUdNlOI ID Y CdA .
within the power of the senate, but tn
lconclusion they have reached makes
unnecessary to discuss the question. Tn
loffenses committed by the two senator
were not. in the opinion OF a ma1orlt
Iof the committee, of equal gravity In
lcharge made by Senator Tillman ha
been once before in the senate specll
calIy denied in parliamentary langua
by Mr. McLaurin. The ofense charsa
lagainst Senator McLaurin was anon
! the most reprehensible senator coni
Z commit He could not ignore it or IA
: to refute it and hope to be longer re
spected as either a man or senator
"Mr McLaurin did not commence Tn
Z encounter. but only stood in his pfac
q at his desk. where he was speaking an
5 lresisted the attack that was made UP
s lon him In other words. his offens
4 was confined to the use of unparlia
Imentary language. for which he ha
q Unusual provocation. Nevertheless, hi
g Inffense was a violation of the rules {
Il 1.-The senate of so serious a characte
L.. % 49,