The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-02-28
In the Senate.

min r. Tillman, the South Carolina
f1re-eater, justified his reputation Sat-
urday afternoon by an assault with his
fists on his colleague. Senator John l..
MoLaurin. on the floor Of the senate.
The two senators thereupon engaged
in a fist fight until separated by the OK
ficers n members of the senate. m
mediately thereafter they were ad-
judged in contempt of the senate, were
formally susp ended, and are now MEM
bers of the upper house of congress IN
name only, being admitted to the floor,
but without the privilege of speaking
or voting. Whether either senator IS
to be permitted to resume his legislative
functions is a question of doubt. as the
senate has the right to expel both Of
| fenders
Tillman Is Told He Lied.
Mr.. Tillman's ~provocation was the
public denunciation of one of his state
ments as "a willful, malicious, n de-
llberate lie" by the Junior senator from
South Carolina. Mr.. McLaurin, during
his absence from the chamber, had been
accused by his colleague Of securing
the patronage of his state in payment
for his vote in favor of the Spanish
treaty. Immediately he was notified of
the charge Mr.. McLaurin went to his
seat and requested a hearing. and the
denunciation, the personal clash, and
the other incidents of the remarkable
affair followed.
First Blow Reaches McIaurin.
Mr.. Tillman struck the first blow.
brushing aside Mr.. Teller and upsetting
a chair in his rush to confront his col
league. Mr.. McLaurin. who had stepped
forward to meet his opponent, was hit
on the forehead and struck back, land
ing on Mr.. Tillman's nose, drawing
blood. A general mix-up ollowed and
the blows were falling thick and fast
when the combatants were dragged
apart and pinioned by those first TO
reach them. One Of the peacemakers,
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Layton,
was struck in separating the men.
Senate Hear Explanations.
After the action by the senate sus
pending both men and they had been
given the privilege Of the noor to apol-
ogize. Mr.. Tillman asked the pardon OF
the senate, but made no apology to his
colleague.
Mr.. McLaurin's statement was more
"a Gil CAPAuhdNiOA lIdu ON dpolo6y, dhA
when he began a t~hreat-'If there is
any more Of that talk"-friends per-
suaded him to desist. and 1t is believed
another violent scene was averted.
The status of Senators Tillman and
M~cT4aurin Is that they are in contempt
of the senate and only by a vote of the
senate can either be recognized to speak
or to vote on any question.
I'm the Senate.
Washington, Feb. Is. After eight
he urs Of tumultuous debate yesterday
the serate passed the Philippine tariff
bill by a vote of 46 to 26. a strictly
party vote. Mr.. Tillman IND Mr.. Nc
Laurin, the two senator's from South
Carolina, who or Saturday last were
declared by the senate to be in con-
tempt because of their fight in the
chamber, were not permitted by voice
or vote to participate In the proceed
ings. The gu astion as to their right
to vote precipitated a sharp debate
lasting nearly two hours. Mr.. Turner
(Dem., Wash.) contended vigorously
for the right of the two senators to
cast their votes, and he was sustained
by Mr.. Patterson Of Colorado, Mr..
Bailey of Texas Inc other Democrats.
They held that even though the two
senator's were actually under arrest
n in the custody Of the sergeant-at-
arms, they oul demand that they be
allowed to vote. as the senate had not
passed or their case.
Mr.. Foraker, Mr.. Aldrich and other
Republicans held that the enators
clearly could not participate in any of
the proceedings of the senate until they
had purged themselves of contempt
and the senate had removed the a
placed on them.
The president pro tenn. Mr.. Frye,
held that the two senators could not
vote and he was sustained by a ma
jority of the senate.
During the debate on the Philippine
bill Mr.. McComas and Mr.. Wellington
of Maryland became involved in a CON-
troversy during the course of which
the latter declared thai IL Mr.. Nc |
Comas should make his statements
outside the senate chamber he would
brand them as a malicious f~alsehOod.
He was called to order promptly and
resumed his seat amid considerable ex-
element.
Many amendments were offered to
the Philippine bill. but except those Of
fered by the committee only one, an
amendment restricting the operation OF
the sedition laws enacted by the Taft
commission, was passed.
I'm the House.
The house yesterday passed a bill to
divide Texas into four judicial districts
and also the Tawney resolution calling
on the secretary Of war for Information
concerning the transfer of sugar lands
in Cuba since the American occupa-
ton. 1t then transacted some business
pertaining to the District of Columbia
and later took up the diplomatic m
consular appropriation bill. The bin
carries an appropriation of 81. 931 ,67S.
an increase OF $685. $50 over last year. 1t
was made the vehicle for speeches on
trusts, coinage and other irrelevant
matters. The galleries were packed all
day in anticipation of Prince Henry's
visit.
When Prince Henry entered the gal
lery Of the house he was loudly ap-
%plauded, some venturing to give vent
to cheers. Prince Henry gracefully