The Washington times., 1913-04-26
Resolutions Proposed.

his warrant directed to the seargeant-
alarms commanding him to take in
custody wherever to be found the body
of Charles c. Glover, of the City of
Washington, in the District of Column
bia. and the same in custody keep. and
that the said Charles c. Glover be
brought to the bar of the House OF
Representatives on a day to be fixed
In said warrant, to answer the charge
that he. on Friday, April is, 1913, in the
city of Washington. District of Column
bia, committed a nassault upon the per-
son OF Congressman Thetus W. Sims,
a Representative in the Sixty-third Con-
gesrs from the State of Tennessee, be-
cause of words spoken by the said Con-
gresham Sims in debate on the floor OF
the House while the House was in regu-
lar session during the SiXty-second Con-
Grees, and that, in committing said as
sault. Charles c. Glover has been guilty
OF a breraeh OF the privileges and con-
tempt of the House of Representatives:
and that the said Charles c. Glover be
furnished copy of this resolution and
copy of the report of the Select Com
mittee of the House appointed to in
vestigate the charge made against him
in the House of Representatives.
Resolved: That, when Charles c.
Glover shall be brought to the bar of
the House to answer the charge of hav-
ing violated the privilege of the House
gressman Thetus W. Sims of Tennessee
for words spoken by said Congressman n
Sims on the floor of the House of Rep
resentatives, the Speaker shall then
cause TO be read to the said Charles C.
Glover the findings of facts by the spe-
cial committee of the House charged
with the duty of investigating whether
or not the said assault had in fact been
committed as alleged and whether OF
not the said Charles c. Glover had vio-
lated the privileges of the House Of
Representatives by said assault
THE Speaker shall then inquire OF
the said Charles c. Glover If he desires
TO be heard, and to have counsel on the
House of Representatives for having
violated its privileges.
IF the said Charles c. Glover de-
sires to avail himself OF either of these
privileges the same shall be granted
him, II not the House shall thereupon
proceed to take order in the matter"
Immunity of Members.
Elaborating upon immunity from
question of members for words spoken
in debate, the committee says further:
The committee also believes that, in
reporting on such grave subject. II
ought to say that while freedom of
speech and debate is a great vital priv
ilese and without that freedom to an
unconditional extent all the other priv
ileges o feither of the Houses Of Con-
gress would be practically Intellectual.
yet the very existence and extent Of
the privilege demands the greatest re-
straint in its exercise. No man, ven
under the cloak of public necessity and
parliamentary power, ought TO have
the right wantCnly to defame another.
As Mr. Justice Story very pertinently
says (Story on the Constitution, section
S66):
Every citizen has as good a right
to be protected by the laws from
malignant scandal, false charges,
and defamatory imputation as a
member of Congress has to utter
them in his seat. II II were other
wise, a mans character might be
taken away without the possibility
of redress, either by the malice or
indiscretion, or overweening self
conceit of a member of Congress.
Will Protect Both Sides.
THE House of Representatives is vi
tally concerned with the safeguarding
of its privileges and the preservation of
tts legislative integrity and dignity. 1t
II Just as seriously concerned, however.
with the maintenance Of such a course