Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23

THE OMAHA DA
though they still made Intellectual efforts to
get at each other. Finally they were
forced into their seats.
Mr.. McLaurin, although very pale,
seemed to be the calmer Of the two. Mr..
Tillman was as white as a\sheet. As he
sat down in his seat he drew his handker-
chief from his pocket and wiped blood
from his face that seemingly was flowing
slightly from the nose. Until that time
II had not been supposed that blood had
been drawn in the encounter.
Excitement at High Tension.
During the fight senators oil over the
chamber we're on their feet. Not a word.
however. was spoken. The senate never in
all Its history had received such a shock.
The president pro tenn, Mr.. Frye, was the
first to regain composure. In calm and uu-
imprisoned tones he directed that the
senate be in order.
He raped two or three times with his
gavel and in a moment a semblance Of or
der was restored, senators having by this
time partly recovered from the shock and
moved hurfiedly about the chamber. Mr..
Gallinger was first to address the chair.
"Mr. President" said he, II ask you
that the doors be closed"
Again the president pro tenn requested the
senate to be in order and that the sem
ators resume their seats.
It was reserved for Mr.. Pritchard of
North Carolina In a measure to relieve the
strain under which all were laboring. He
desired to address the senate on the pend
ing Philippine bill, and, calling for the at
~tention Of the chair, said: "If the senator
from Qoukh CaRnlf1o mr. MI aurtuN hao
concluded -
McLaurin ReSumes Speech.
He was interrupted by Mr.. McLaurin. who
said calmly:
81 will now proceed with my remarks,
which were SO unceremoniously inter-
rupted."
81 call the senator from South Carolina
to order" interrupted Mr.. Teller.
Which one of the senatorsf" inquired
Mr.. McLaurin, with asperity.
eth one" SAID Mr.. Teller, indicating Mr.
McLaurin, land the other one, too, for, that
matter"
"Mr. President interjected Mr.. Foraker,
II Join in that. Surely" he continued with
great feeling, his face male with excite
ment, there is some way to protect the
dignity of this body"
Certainly said Mr.. Burrows, who had
been endeavoring vainly to get the eye Of
the chair. 'and the senate cannot let this
thing pass"
"Mr. President Mr.. Presidentl" said Mr..
Gallinger, II ask again that the doors be
closed"
GO Into Executive Session.
"Mr. President" said Mr.. Foraker, who
had moved into the main aisle, 1T move that
the senate go into executive session, with
out comment"
emotion which all endeavored to conceal,
the motion was agreed to and at 1859 the
doors were closed.
The proceedings after the doors closed
covered almost two hours Of time and re-
suited in the adoption of a resolution in
the form Of an order, as follows:
Ordered, That the two senator's from the
state of South Carolina be declared in con-
tempt. of the. senate, on account OF the al
tercaton and personal encounter between
them this day in open session, and that the
matter be referred to the committee on
to report what action shall be taken by the
senate in regard thereto.
The decision in the secret session was
based largely on the foregoing resolution,
the first suggestion Of which was made by
Mr.. Foraker. In presenting the resolution,
Immediately after the doors of the cham
Der were closed. Mr.. Foraker took occa-
sion to remark that the occurrence had
been an outrage on the dignity of the
senate, OF which the senate should take
cognizance.
Hoar Wants Explicit Action.
Mr.. Hoar endorsed the resolution Of Mr..
Foraker. but sale he thought the action OF
the senate should be more explicit than
contemplated by the resolution.
He therefore moved to amend 1t by order
fng that the two senators be declared In
contempt by the senate for disorderly con-
duct and speech In its presence and that
both should be taken in custody. In sup
port of this amendment he said that any
court OF any other parliamentary body
would commit men for such q grave Of
Tense against It's dignity to wait it's judg-
ment. The reference of the matter to a
committee, he said, would be on a line with
a courts reference to an auditor or ref
cree, and the, offender should be restrained
during the investigation.
Mr.. Blackburn and other senators then
stated that this two South Carolina sena-
tors were willing to apologize and thus
purge themselves OF contempt, and In view
Of this statement, Mr., Hoar withdrew the
| ROEtlOu VI lib ahChuh4Ohb PAONluAu6 lOE
their commitment.
All Agree or GTavity of Onense.
Mr.. Foraker then accepted the amendment
OF Mr.. Hoar and 1t was embodied In the
| resolution. Before the vote was taken a
number of senators spoke, and while there
were many kind u~tterances regarding both
senators, there was no exception in the
opinion as to the gravity and seriousness
Of the offense.
Among the senators who thus delivered
themselves were Messrs. Teller, Fairbanks.
Hanna, Blackburn and Spooner. Mr.. Hanna
suggested that serious as had been the en-
counter in the senate. It was not 30 grave
as the charge OF misconduct made against
Mr.. McLaurin, and he thought that any In
vestigation undertaken should extend to
that matter.
Mr.. Teller. while uniting with other sen.
ators in deprecating the occurrence, said
that It was not unprecedented, that Their,
had been other similar instances on tn,
floor Of the senate, instancing the en-
counters between Senators Benton and
Foote.
Says spOOner IL Not BIameless.
He also suggested thai Mr.. spooner wal
not entirely blameless for today's occur
renee, because by his interrogatories b,