Evening star., 1902-02-28
CENSURED
Action in Case of Tillman
and McLaurin.
THREE REPORTS MADE
EXCITING INCIDENT DURING THE
ROLL CALL.
Mr.. Tillman Resents Procedure, Saving
That an Apology Was Ample
Among Gentlemen.
REPORTS MADE


suit followed the adoption by the Senate
today of the following by a vote of 81 to II:
Resolved. That 1t is the judgment of the
Senate that Senators Benjamin r. Tillman
and John l.. McLaurin, for disorderly be-
havior and fragrant violation of the rules
of the Senate during the open session OF
the Senate on the 22d Of February instant.
deserve the censure of the Senate and they
hereby so cenSured for their breach Of
the privileges and dignity OF this body and
from and after the adoption OF this resolu-
tion the order adjudging them in contemp.
OF the Senate shall be no longer in fore,
ami effect"
This resolution had been reported favor
ably to the Senate from the committee on
privileges and elections by vote of 10 TO
3, members of the committee voting for il
being Senators Burrows, chairman; Hoar,
Foraker Depew. Dillingham; Pettus, Black
burn. Dubois, Bailey and Foster of Louis
isna; those voting against in committee
being MeSSrS. Pritchard, McComas and Bev-
eridge.
The Committees Report
The report recites the history OF the a.
tercatiOn in the Senate and quoted the
language then used by the offenders. All
agreed to this statement.
The report then continued follows:
THAT the conduct of the two senator's was
an infringement of the privileges OF the
Senate, a violation of its rules and derog-
atory to it's high character, tending TO
bring the body itself into public contempt,
cannot be questioned denied. Indeed,
the Senate by a unanimous vote has al
ready placed on record its condemnation
Of the senators by declaring both guilty
of contempt The majority of the COM
mittee are of the opinion that the legal
effect of adjudging these senators incon-
tempt of the Senate was to suspend their
functions senators and that such a pun
ishment for disorderly behavior is clearly
within the power of the Senate. but the
conclusion they have reached makes it
unnecessary to discuss this question.
Offenses Unequal.
1.-THE offenses committed by the two sen
ators We're not, in the opinion Of ma or-
ity of the committee Of equal gravity. The
charge made by Mr.. Tillman had been once
before in the Senate specifically denied in
parliamentary language by Mr.. McLaurin.
The ofrense charged against Mr.. McLaurin
was among the most reprehensible sena-
tor could commit. He could not ignore It
or fail to refute it and hope to be longer
respected as either man a senator.
"Mr McLaurin did not commence the
encounter but only stood In his place at
his desk, where he was speaking and re-
sisted the attack that was made upon him.
In other words, his offense was confined to
the use of unparliamentary language, for
which he had unusual provocation. Never
theleSS, his offenSe was a violation of the
rules of the Senate of so serious char
acter that in the opinion of the committee
1T should be condemned
Mr.. Tillman's Offense.
IN the case of Mr.. Tillman the record
shows that the alteration was commenced
by the charge he made against Mr. Nc
Laurin. Such a charge is fneXcusable, ex-
cept in connection with resolution to in
vestigate. Mr.. Tilman not only made the
charge without any avowal of purpose to
investigate but also disclaiming knowledge
of evidence 20 establish the offense and
this he said after the charge had been
specifically and unqualifedly denied by Mr..
McLaurin.
such a charge. under any circumstances,
would be resented by any man worthy to
be senator; but. made as it was in this
instance its offensiveness was greatly In
tenSifed, and the result must have been
foreseen by Mr.. Tllman. II he took any
thought as he should. of the consequences
of his statements. This feature of his Of
fense, coupled with the fact that he also
commenced the encounter by quitting his
seat some distance away from Mr.. Nc
Laurin, and rushing violently upon him,
struck him in the face. makes the case one
of such exceptional msbehavior that q ma
Jority Of the committee are of the opinion
that this offense was of much greater grar-
ity than that of Mr.. McIaurin.
Censure for Both Recommended.
1.-The penalty of a censure by the Senate.
in the nature Of things, must vary In ac-
tual severity In proportion to the public
sense of the gravity of the offense of which
the offender has been adjudged guilty.
Therefore, Notwithstanding the fact that
in the opinion of majority of the commit
tee there is difference in the gravity Ok
the offenses under considerat ton. your COM
mittee are of the opinion that public good
and the dignity of the Senate viii be alike
best promoted and protected. so far as this
particular case is concerned, by imposing
upon each senator by formal vote the
sure Of the Senate for the offense by him
committed. and therefore recommend ;he
adoption of the resolution
The democratic members of the commit
tee Messrs. Pettus, Blackburn, Dubois.
Bailey and Foster of Louisiana Joined In q
report in which they approved the adoption
of the resolution reported by the commit
tee. but took exception to the declaration
contained in the report to the effect that
the Senate could suspend a member and
that the offenses of the two senators were
not equal.
Three republican members of the commit
tee Messrs. Pritchard. McComas and Bev-
eridge, joined in a long report, in which
they discussed the power of the Senate to
suspend member or to infiict other pun
and cited many authorities to sue-
tain their contention. They also recon-
mended that resolution be adopted SUE
pending Senator McLaurin five days ana
Senator Tillman twenty days. on the ground
that their offenses were not equal. This
report was approved by Senator Prftchard
except as to the suspension of Senator Nc
Laurin, whom he declared had not COM
mitted an offense sufficiently grave to war
rant such action in view of the extresne
he had suffered.
The Senate experienced sn intense mo-
ment during the roll call when the woe
was taken on the resolution censurins tns
two South Carolina senator's.
Senator McLaurin of Mississippi. when
mis- name was called. stated that he would
not vote because of his relation by kins1llp
to the junior senator from South CarOline.
The latter said that for obvious reasons hA
would not vote.
Senate Again Stirred Up.
When Senator Tillmans name was called
he arose quietly and in q tone showing G1n