The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-02-23
TILLMAN AND M'LAURIN
ENGAGE III FIERCE FIGHT
ON FLOOR OF SENATE
Continucd From Page One.

'Shttb
conduct made against Mr.. McLaurin, ana
lie thought that any invest "i'aer-
taken should extend 10 that matter
Mt Teller. whia uniting with other Sen
aturs in dcprcCating the occurrence saiu
that il was rot unprecedented; tlat tnere
had been other similar affairs on ihe hoo'
OF the senate. and instancei among o'h-
erS the .Ec"GEtcr between senators hshtoh
and Foote. IL also suggested that Mr.
SponTer WAS uot entirely hianriesS tor TO-
days occurrence. because by his interrosa-
tories he had provoked Mr.. Tillman 10
make explicitly the charges which had been
hut vaguely made before his interference
In the debate.
Replying to this statement MI Siooiier
said that he had been uf the opinion 'hi'
Mr.. Tiilmap ahould either not make ms
charges OK move for an inquiry by the
Senate If he believed them to he Wei
founded. There was much discussion as q
whether the vote of the Foraker ameh"-
mrnt should he taken III open or i'll secret
session.
\ motion was. made by Mr.. Teller locking
t. the opening Of the doors. This was Voteu
down-lS to u. The Republican senators
=, II. rally expressed themselves as Wliiihs
to hear the apologies promised. but gen
orally insisted that there should first be
action upon the resolution.
DECLARED N CONTEMPT
Dy UNANIMOUS VOTE.
on the suggestion of Mr.. Bacon there was
4 division nf the two branches Of the ques-
ton The first vote was taken On the dec
laration that the two senators were in con-
tempt. and il prevailed by unanimous
vote Of 81 to o ON roll cal -ihe re
matter to the Committee un Privileges ana
Elections was adopted without a ioii can.
Both the South Carolina senators re-
mein.l in their seats during the entire s's-
si.,Fr.t
friends but neither made any attempt 10
address the Senate.
After the secret session the Senate. at
$50. resumed business in open session '-Vl-
dence was abundant that the secret ses-
sion htd been more or less exciting
Nearly every Senator In the chamber was
OH his feet Groups of Senators were gath
.rsd here and there about the chamber. all
discussing the nortentious event which had
throwr the dignfed body Into farnent
AZ soon as ord = could be restored MT.
Blackburn said t,At as the seal OF secrecy
mad he q removed from the secret session
lust held he w;S at liberty u say that
during that session he had made Il state
Inent TO the Senate of what the Senator
from South Carolina iMr. 1Ilinan, was
prepared and pleased to Soy u the Senate.
He explained that both Senators from
South Carolina had been declared by the
Senate 10 be in contempt. nat he ut-
sired row to know, and he wanted the
Chair to rule upon the point. was whether
any statement could be made to the Senate
in onen session bv either of the Senators
y hil,. they were III contempt of the Senate.
EIGHT OF MEN IN CONTEMPT
TO ADDRESS THE SENATE.
Mr. Foraker interrupted to suggest that
unanimous consent be given to the Sena-
tors TO make their statements.
MIR. Blackburn declined 70 hear for n
moment any suggestion that unanimous
consent be given them to address the Sen
ate That they were in contempt all SEN
afC-s all the world. now knew. What he
wanted to know vas whether senators IN
CuUternpt could address the Senate, not as
a matter of courtesy. bur as matter OF
right On that point he demanded ruling
,,v the chair. The Senior Senator from
South Carolina Crillman). he continued. was
willing and anxious to make a statement
10 the Senate. but he wanted to know how
he could make it. The action of the Sen
ate in declaring Mr. Tiliman in contempt
was in his Judgment. premature.
Mr. Hoar suggested that the Senators
could address the Senate by unanimous con-
sent or by q motion made to give them that
privilege. for which majority of the SEN
ate should vote.
consent maintaining that If the Senators
were accorded the floor in that way they
held Il for any purpose. and had the I'M
doubted right to speak upon any subject.
oh, not no. came protests from all parts
of the chamber.
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada was about to sug-
sest the practice of courts in contempt
cases, but he was Interrupted by Mr..
Blackburn with the statement that the Seu-
ate was rot q court in any sense The Sem
ate had it's own rules. and by them only
could it be governed. Mr.. Aldricf Of Rhode
Island said that there was nothing in the
rules Of the Senate which covered speciti-
cally such a violation of the order and dig
rity of the body as had occurred
As both senators had been declared by the
Senate to be in contempt. however, it was
manifest that they could not take the floor
except for the express purpose OF purgins
themselves of that contempt. H maintainel
that the Senators from South Carolina had
been adjudge,t out Of order practically by
vote If the Senate.
The discussion on this question was quite
lengthy and was participated in by Mr..
blackburn, Mr.. Patterson. Mr.. Foraker and
MIR Teller.
PRESIDENT FRYE'S RULING
UPON THE QUESTION.
OIh.r Senator's showed n disposition TO
| discuss the subject further. bat President
/ pro TEN. FRYE announced that he was ready
! 10 ruic. ard said:
| 'Nhiia these TWO Sendt'iS 'iie uoNid''' "
! no in contempt the chair could not recog-
| niza either If he should rise and address the
| chair; but on motion made by any Senator
| hat they b,, heard the chair would recog-
| uiza the Senator making the motion ana
! would hold that the motion was in order
| In the ordinary transgression OF the rnies
| or violation of order the Senator violating
! :, must take his chair, and he cannot To
| recognized by the presiding officer agar
, until the senate has relieved him oil una
| bv motion. OF course. the senators lru'i
| south Carolina can be relieved from tht
| condition in. which they are now SO tar az
recognition by the chair is concerned py
| rotion and by a majority vote of the Sen
ate. What will happen after the two sen
ators have purgsd themselves; so far +. as s,,I !
is possible of the contempt ,ne .Sat Gnt'' o,ea ms
ton Is raised.
rHIytl,EGE OF THE FLOOR
cR,yyED BOTH SENATOR'S:
AZ the conclusion of the ruling OF MT
Erve MIR. blackburn said:
! II move that the senior senator i'o'