The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-28
OVER COURSE TO PURSUE AS TO SEN.
ATORS TllLRAN AND M'IAURIN.
PRESIDENT FRYE BACKS DOWN
From HIS Position of the Day He
fore and Orders Their Name. Re-
stored to the RoIl-This Done Az
Senators, who Opposed Such Tn
precedented Action-Suspension to
be Attempted by Committee Reso-
lution-Some Republican,. Doubt
Even This Right.


important development today in connec-
ton with the Tillman- McLaurin episode
of last Saturday was the act OF Senator
Frye. president pro tenn. OF the senate.
in ordering the clerk of the senate to
restore the names Of the two South
Carolina senators to the senate roll. II
the present plan is carried out this act
will be followed by the adoption by the
senate of a resolution before a vote on
any other subject is taken, practically
endorsing the action of the president
pro tenn in ordering their names erased
and suspending the two senator's for
some definite time.
The order Of Senator Frye for the res
toration of the names to the roll was
issued almost Immediately after the
senate convened today and was the re.
suit of a general conference among the
republican leaders of the senate.
When asked for an explanation of
this order Senator Frye said:
I'm my rulings yesterday I believe
that 1 was strictly within parliament
ary law; that senators in contempt are
not entitled to recognition either TO
speak or to vote and that logically their
names should not be called. / still ad-
here to that opinion; but, desirous OF
shifting the responsibility from the
chair to the senate. have directed the
clerk to restore to the roll the names or
the two senators from South Carolina.
When asked if the result Of this ac-
tion would be the recognition of either
of the senator's to either vote or SPEAK.
Senator Frye replied that it would not
and that that was a question which
must be decided by the senate. He d.
clined, however, to state how the gus
ton would be brought to the attention
of the senate.
Inquiry in other quarters developed
the fact that there had been confer
ence Of the republican leaders in Sem
ator Aldrich's committee room during
the forenoon. and that the extent Of
Senator Frye's ruling and especially its
far reaching effect, not only in this
case, but as q precedent had been very
exhaustively discussed, the conclusion
being that the action of the president
pro tenn. in striking the names of the
| South Carolina senators from the roll
| and his refusal of a request to have
| their names called was beyond prece-
| dent in the senate and not entirely jus
| tilted.
On this account it was decided that
| this particular phase of the question
l should be Immediately taken up by the
| committee on privileges and elections
| Senator Burrows, who is chairman OF
| that committee. was called into the con
| ference and the details of carrying on
| the plan were introduced to him. /
| was decided that resolution should b,
formulated providing for the temporary
suspension of the two senators ani
that this resolution should be passet
| upon by Senator Burrows committee
and presented to the senate as soon a
possible after the convening Of tina
body tomorrow. The general opinion
OF the senators present was that tn
| South Carolina men should be punish
ed to some extent for the altercatio
of Saturday and the senator's presen
| were quite agreed that suspension
| would be the most practicable and reas
| enable form of infiicting this punish
ment. Five days was suggested as
| reasonable time for the suspension an
there was some suggestion that Sena
| tor Tillman should be given somewha
| longer suspension than his colleague
| The question of time was. however, lef
| indefinite the understanding being tha
| this should be determined by the com
| mittee.
Immediately after this conference
| Senator Burrows issued call for
meeting of his committee tomorrow
morning In response to question;
| Senator Burrows said he could max
no explanation Of the purpose Of tn
meeting beyond the general statemen
| that the question of privilege In connec
. | ton with the conduct OF the South Ca-
| olina senators would be taken up 10
| investigation.
The democratic senator's also spen
| the day in a general discussion anon
L cfs
unanimous in their characterization n
Senator Frye's ruling as arbitrary an
| announced their purpose to resist b.
| prolonged debate IL necessary an
| further efforts to enforce the ruling
| Senator Turner, acting for his demo-
| cratic colleagues. prepared resolutio
| declaring It to be "the sense of the sen
ate that the names Of Senators Tillmal
and McLaurin should be restored {
| the senate roll" and in addition assert
| ing that those two senators ARE enti
| tied to vote on all questions coming be
fore the senate" This resolution ma.
not be pressed. owing to the teton o
| the ma jority.
| The adjournment Of the senate TO
/ the day was also decided upon at tn
forenoon conference Of the republican
leaders. The announcement Of Repre-
sentative Crump's death had reaches
the senate yesterday. but was withheld,
until today. When the republican sen
ators were informed Of this fact, the!
were only too willing to use the an
nouncement TO secure an ad1ournmen
and their democratic colleagues wer,
just as willing that 1t should be 50 used
All senators recognized the fact tina
the senate In under somewhat seriou
tension and all felt that both time ans
temper might be saved by stopping 70
twentv-four hours for general confer
ence and exchange Of views over tn
/ situation