Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-02-25
NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE.

Through an aQr0lt move on Tue phTb
of Senator Aldrich, the Senate yesier-
day applied cloture and set precedent
which may overthrow all the traditions
of the Senate. Another theory given
sanction of action was that Stats
may be deprived of representation In
the Senate by mere resolution TO
cepsure its Senators, or by the act OF
the presiding officer Of the Senate, who
may strike the names OF Senators from
the rolls without any specific sanction
by the Senate. In coDsonaDce with
this procedure and as an essential to its
mplishment, the presiding officer
of the Senate, President pro TEN.
Frye. refused to entertain an appeal to
the Senate from decision of the chair.
When voting on amendments to the
Philippine bill began, 1t developed that
by direction of the presiding officer the
CLERK ct the desk had omiltsd the
names of the two Senators from South
Carolina-Iillman and McLaurin-
from the roll, and they were not per.
mittsd to vote. Senator I. NJ. Peter
son first called attention to this omis-
sion, but OF q period OF tle roll-call
where be might not Interrupt. At The
conclusion of the actual call OF names,
but before the announcement Of the
vote, Senator George Turner, of Wash.
ington, asked II the omission Of the
names OF the two Senators had been by
direction ofthe chair. The presiding
officer replied that they bad, and made
a ruling that the two Senators, being
adjudged in contempt, were not entitled
to vote. MIR. Turner took an appeal
from the ruling and proceeded 10 ad-
dress the Senate on the subject. This
was declared to be out OF order, and,
so appeal being taken from that ruling,
the Chair refused to put the appeal to
the Senate. he also refused or failed
to submit an appeal from any one OF his
rulings, either as to debate or as to the
right OF the South Carolina Senators to
vote. This is believed TO be the frat
time such action was ever attempted In
the Senate, and Mr.. Turner, in trying
to proceed with his statement, was
cried down by Senators on the repub-
llcan side OF the chamber, 60 act Of dis.
order which Mr.. Bailey, ofTexas, later
characterized as violation OF the de.
corum OF tue Senate equal almost 10 the
scene between the two South Carolina
Senators on Saturday.
While Mr.. Bailey still held the floor
the point Of order, which had been once
before overruled, that the Senstor was
proceeding in violation Of an unani.
nous consent agreement, was renewed
by Mr.. Aldrich, vita request that 1t
be put to the Senats. This question
was accordingly put to the Senate.
Mr.. Bailey, by the vote Of a majority,
was ruled out OF order and taken from
the floor. Thus cloture was enforced
for the first time in the Senate.
The protest which Senator Tillman
endeavored, through Senator Turner, to
present to the Senate Is in part as fol-
lowe:
"The undersigned, holding commission
In this body from the sovereign State OF South
Carolina, as one Of its Senators, and having
been in the full and undisputed exercise OF
that high office for seven years last past,
solemnly protests sgainst depriving him OF
the right as such Senator to vote on the pend
lux mohoulO aaO w lhAo pnib BOuolaAlJ III buo
proceedings of the Senate, and he respectfully
asks that this, his protest, msy be sprea on
the journals Of the Senate.
while II Is true that the undersigned has
been adjudged TO bein contempt Of the Senate
for disorder committed in its presence on the
last legislative day before this, an act COM
mitted in the heat OF blood and which he
regrets and has apologized for, that incident
has passed and gone, and he Is now in his
place as 3 Senator, desfous Of proceeding in
order and in accordance with the rules OF the
Senate, in the performance OF the high duties
intrusted TO him by the authority and under
the seal of the State of South Carolina.
ain making this protest the undersigned Is
not moved by considerations personal to him.
self. He Is not restiYe under the Just disci-
plIne Of this body. He Is ready to cheerfully
accept such order as 1t may make for the vim
dicstion Of its rights and its dignity. But until
that order shall have been made, and until il
shsll have sdjudged his expulsion il the
Senate thinks his offense merits that punish'
ment,he cannot silently permit his State to be
deprived Of its full constitutional representa-.
ton on the floor Of this chamber, which Is most
notably exemplifed in its right through its
Senators to vote and speak upon every meas
ure before 1t. All OF which is respectfully
submitted for the consideration Of the Senate |"
The programme Of the republican majority
OF the Senate In connection with the Tillman-
McLaurin alteration in the Senate is prac.
tically outlined. Briefly speaking, it is to
delay as long IS possible the time before the
two Senators will bo allowed to resume par
ticipaton in the proceedings