The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-05

u
What b-Committee Has Agreed
On--suspension Was Abandoned.
Washington, Feb. 27.-The sub-com-
mittee of the senate committee on
privileges and elections which was ap-
pointed yesterday to formulate a
proposition for the proper punishment
Of Senators Tillman and McLaurin of
South Carolina for their ofense to the
Senate of last Saturday, today practi-
cally concluded to recommend that
the two senator's be severely censured
for their conduct and to limit the
punishment to censure. The sub
committee consists of Senators Bur
rows, Hoar and Foraker, Republicans,
and Senators Pettus and Bailey, Dem
ocrats. All were present at the early
part of the meeting but Senator Bailey
was compelled by indisposition to leave
the conference before its close.
Today's meeting was very harmon
ious one and little difference of opin-
ion developed. The Republican mem
bers of the subcommittee did not
themselves contend for a resolution
suspending the two senators but
represented that there were some
Republican members, of the full
committee who adhere to the opinion
that through suspension only can ade-
quate punishment be meted out to
the offending members. Senator Bev-
eridge is understood to be among the
most strenuous advocates of this form
of proceeding and Senator McComas
is inclined to agree with him. Some
doubt is expressed as to whether they
will unite in report limiting the
punishment to censure.
On the other hand some of the Dem
orcatic members made 1t very plain
that they not only would not agree
in committee to the reporting of a
resolution of suspension but that if
such a resolution should be presented
to the senate by majority of the COM
mittee they would resist its adoption
bv the senate to the extent of insist
ing upon prolonged debate. The Re-
publicans, members of the committee,
and also many Republican senators
who are not members of the commit
tee, have given very serious attention
to this possibility of delay in the sen
ate, and there is no doubt that it is
having a pronounced influence on the
disposal of the question. They recog-
nize the fact that if so disposed the
minority can obstruct all legislation
for an Indefinite time and probably
continue the present session Of con-
gress far into the summer. Some Of
them also hold the view that censure
is a more severe and certain form Of
punishment than suspension.
These are the reasons which have
led the Republican members of the
subcommittee to agree to resolution
Of censure, and nothing is left to com
plete the proceedings but to secure
the assent of their. Republican col
leagues who are not members of the
subcommittee. The matter has been
left open for consultation with them,
and while the full committee has been
called to met tomorrow at half past
10 O'Clock, the subcommittee will
meet half an hour previous to that
time. This will afford opportunity to
notify the Democrats if there should
be change of programme.
There has been considerable discus
sion of the matter of differentiation
of the punishment Of the two senator's,
some of the Republican members
holding out strongly for more severe
rebuke to Senator Tillman than to
Senator McLaurin, because they hold
that his offense of striking fellow
senator was greater than that of his
colleague, who gave the provocation to
the blow, but this course has been
practically abandoned SO far as the
sub committee is concerned, and both
will be equally reprimanded. 1t also
has been virtually decided that no
apology shall be exacted from the SEN
ators, the reason for eliminating any
reouirement of that kind being
found in the fact that senator's gener-
ally fear such enforced apologies
might not amount to apologies after
all.
3 The Democratic members of the
committee have suggested that the
censure should be in very severe Ian
gauge, and, if anything, have been
inclined to be more caustic than their
Republican colleagues. 1t is the desire
of all members of the committee to
End a course of action that will be ac
ceptable to the entire senate, and the
only difficulty now appears to be to
secure the consent of those Republi-
cans who believe the occasion calls for
moro than mere words of rebuke.
The resolution will impose on the
president of the senate the task of
administering the reprimand.