The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-03-04


"The majority of tho committee are
of opinion that tho legal effect of ad
Judging these senators in contempt
of the senate was to suspend their
functions ~ senators and that such
punishment for disordorly behavior
is clearly within tho power Of the
senate but the conclusion they have
reached makes it unnecessary to dis
cuss this question. The offenses
committed by the two senators wore
not, in the opinion of majority of
the committee, of equal gravity.
MIR. McLaurin did not commence
the encounter but only stood in his
place at his desk, whoro he WAS speak
ing and resisted the attack that was
made upon him. In other words his
oifense was confined to the use of un-
parliamentary language, for which
nc had unusual provocation. Never
theless, his offense was a violation of
the rules Of tho senate of 30 serious a
character that in the opinion Of tho
committee it should be condemned.
TIE GREATER OFFENSE.
"In the case of Mr.. Tillman, tho
record shows that the alteration was
commenced by tho charge he maGo
against Mr.. McLaurin. Such q
charge IL inexcusable, except in con.
| nection with resolution to investi
gate. MIR. Tillman not only made
the charge without any avowal of u
purpose to investigate, but also dis
claiming knowledge of evidence to
establish the ofrense and this he said
after the charge had been specifically
and unqualifiedly denied by Mr.. Nc
Laurin.
"Such charge under any circum
stances, would be resented by any
man worthy to be u senator; ;but, made
as it was in this instance, it's oiren-
slveness was greatly intensified This
fenture Of bis olrense, coupled with
| tho fact that he also commenced tho
encounter by quitting his scat somo
distance away from Mr.. NIcLaurln,
and rushing violently upon him,
struck him in the face, makes tho
cause one of such exceptional misbe-
haviour that majority Of the COM
mittee arc Of the opinion that his Of
fense was Of such greater gravity
than that of Mr.. McLaurin.
| CANNOT GRADE TIE CENSURE
'The penalty of censure by the
senate in the nature of things must
vary in actual severity in proportion
to the public sense of tho gravity Of
the offense of which the offender has
boon adjudged guilty. Therefore,
Notwithstanding the fnct that in the
opinion of majority of the commit
tee there is difference in the gray
ity Of the offenses under oonsidora-
ton your committee are of the opin-
ion that public good and the dig
nifty Of the senate will be alike best
promoted and protected, 80 far as
this particular case is concerned, by
imposing upon each senator by for
NAL vote the censure of the senate
for the offense by him committed
and therefore, recommend the adop.
ton of the resolution"
At the conclusion of the reading
of the majority report Mr.. Bailey of
Texas, offered the following state
ment as representing the views of
! himself and four other senators:
| MILD DEMOCRATIC DISSENT.
"We dissent from 80 much of the
report of the committee aa asserts
the power Of the senate to suspend a
senator and thus deprive a State of
it's vote, and 80 much as describes
the offenses Of the senators az Of diff
ferent gravity; but We approve the
resolution reported"
The report of the minority of the
committee then was read.
| In this statement the senators
signing it say that while thoy &C.
cept the statement Of the case as
made in tho principal report they do
not agree with the majority of tho
committee as to the punishment pro.
posed by the majority. They then
say:
|