The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-02
6. 0. P. Senate Colleagues
to Vote CenSure If Word
Is Changed.
'CONDEMN' IS OBJECTION
= Enemies Claim Resignation
Must Follow Spanking in
Lobby Case.
BY PAUL r. MALLON
United Press STAFF Correspondent


WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-Senate
Republican colleagues of Senator
~diram Bingham Rep, Comm gen.
orally have decided to support the
Norris resolution censuring the
senator's tariff activities if the word
condemn" in the resolution is
changed to "disapprove
An amendment proposing to
soften thus the tone of the censure
probably will be offered Monday by
Senator Simeon D. Fess CRep, o., j.,
and then the resolution probably
will be passed by an overwhelming
majority" according to present
plans.
Many Senators on both sides Of
the chamber, including Bingham's
strong opponents on the Democratic
side, consider their job extremely
distasteful They privately say they
do not like to spank each other in
public and they would like to avoid
the issue if some way out could be
found.
In the whole history of congress,
senator's and representatives have
censured each other Sparingly and
in rare cases. Only three preced-
ents have been brought to light
since the Bingham case was thrust
q into the foreground.
Two in Fist Fight
The last was twenty-seven years
ago when two senators got into a
fist fight on the floor. In 1912 the
house cenSured a member for the
introduction of a resolution which
the leaders considered treaSonouS.
The first was prior to 1842 when
a Virginia senator made public a
secret treaty with a foreign power.
Only in the case of the house
member did the resignation of the
victim follow the action of the con-
gress. but the other two victims
apologized. Friends of Bingham
say he has no intention either of
apologizing or resigning. The house
member who resigned was elected for
the seven succeeding termS, follow
ing his voluntary retirement.
Chairman Norris of the senate
Judiciary committee who introduced
the resolution terming Bingham's
action as contrary to good morals
, and senatorial ethics and tending to
bring the senate into dishonor and
disrepute," has agreed he will with
draw the resolution anytime Bing-
ham will apologize for his charges
that the senate lobby investigating
committee was packed against him,
and for his employment of Charles
L. Eyanson of the Connecticut Man
ufacturers' Association as his tariff
adviser on the government payroll.
Nothing Else to Do
Bingham has taken the position
there is nothing to apologize for,
so majority of the senators seem
to believe there is nothing for them
to do, to keep the record of the
senate straight. but to adopt the
Norris resolution. It's adoption
would require no action on Bing-
hams part, but some of his oppon-
ents say they do not see how he
could escape resigning.
Norris held up the resolution for
several days at the request of Bing-
hams friends, who we're trying to
make some arrangements to avoid
the necessity for the resolution,
They told Norris of Bingham's wal
record as head of an aviation squad
ron in France: of his record al
Yale. Harvard and Princeton as a
professor, and the fact he Is the
iather of seven children. They
wished to save him. if possible, from
any blot on his reputation.
When Bingham definitely de-
clined to apologize. Norris offered
the resolution which now is pend
ing. In hope that some way out OF
the difficulty may yet be found,
Norris has consented that action on
his resolution be delayed until Mon
day. There are several senators
absent for the weekend, who have
notified Norris they would like to
be present when the vote is taken,
and this too. influenced the senator
for further delay.