The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-28
MILD DW|THSENATORS
ITSELF WITH CENSURE IN
PUNISHMENT
T1LLMAN SEEKS THE FLOOR
He Files Petition With President
Pro Tenn, and His Earlier Pro-
test Is Ordered Spread
on Minutes

L
mittee of the senate committee on privi-
leges and elections, which was appointed
yesterday to formulate proposition for
the proper punishment of Senators Till
man and McLaurin, of South Carolina
for their offense to the senate of last
Saturday, today practically concluded to
recommend that the two senators be
severely censured for their conduct, and
to limit the punishment to censure. The
subcommittee consists of Senators Bur.
rows, Hoar and Foraker Republicans,
and Senators Pettus and Bailey Demo,
crats).
Little difference of opinion developed.
The Republican members of the sub
committee did not themselves contend
for resolution suspending the two
senators, but represented that there were
some Republican members of the full
committee who adhere to the opinion that
through suspension only can adequate
punishment be meted out to the offending
members.
Senator Beveridge is understood to be
among the most strenuous advocates of
this form of proceeding, and Senator
McComas is inclined to agree with him.
Some sdoubt is expressed as to whether
they will unite in a report limiting the
punishment to censure.
on the other hand some of the Demo
cratic members made it very plain that
they not only would not agree in COM
mittee to the resorting of a resolution
of suspension. but that if such a resolu-
ton should be presented to the senate by
a majority of the committee, they would
resist its adoption by the senate to the
extent of insisting upon prolonged debate.
II so disposed the minority can OBJ
struct all legislation for an indefinite time
and probably continue the present ses-
sion of congress far into the summer.
Punishment Will BE Equal.
There has been considerable discussion
of the matter of differentiation of the
punishment of the two senator's, some
of the Republican members holding out
strongly for a more severe rebuke to
Senator Tillman than to Senator Nc
Laurin, because they hold that his Of
fense of striking a fellow-senator was
greater than that of his colleague, who
gave the provocation to the blow, but
this course has been practically abandon
ed. 1t has also been virtually decided
that no further apology shall be eXacted
from the senators.
The resolution will impose on the pres
ident of the senate the duty of admins
tering the reprimand.
AS soon as the senate had been called
to order, Mr.. Frye, the president pro tenn,
day the clerk had not called the names
of the two senators from South Carolina,
they being in contempt of the body. On
Tuesday, he said, he had directed the
clerk to restore the names to the roll in
the event Of a roll call. He had done
this, not because he doubted the propri-
ETY. of his action on Monday, but because
a very grave question was involved,
which he desired to submit to the SEN
ate itself.
Frye Makes an Apology.
Mr. Frye said that the senator from
Washington, Mr.. Turner, had taken an
appeal from the decision of the chair on
Monday. but amid the cloud of points of
order and objection, he (Frye) had over
looked and forgotten the appeal and had
proceeded with other business. For his
forgetfulness he begged the pardon of
the senator from Washington. Had he
done such a thing willfully, he said, he
never could have forgiven himself.
Mr. Frye said he had received a letter
from the senior senator from South Car
ollna (Mr. Tillmen) requesting that he
be heard on a question of highest privi-
lege. The chair could not entertain
such a request under the circumstances
without the unanimous consent of the
senate, Out at tn0 proper IlIHe-pSlIldpS
tomorrow-such request might be enter
tained. Upon request of Mr.. Turner the
protest of Senator Tillman was spread
on the minutes. The protest is as fol-
lows:
..As soon as you shall have announced
officially that my name has been restored
to the senate roll, desire to rise to
question of the highest privilege, and as
/ do not know whether you would rec
ognize me, under the existing circum-
stance I take this means of asking you
to submit my request to the senate for
permission TO do this, and to give me an
opportunity to state my reasons for do
ing So
Mr.. Hoar suggested that the protest
spread upon the minutes be referred TO
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions.
81 have no objection, said Mr.. Turner
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia, said it occurred
to him that the protest was not a mat
ter for further action by the senate. 1t
was certainly a question of too great
Importance to dispose of hastily.
Mr.. Hoar did not insist upon his sug-
gestion, however, in view of the doubt in
Mr.. Bacon,S mind.