The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-12-14
MUST STAND ASIDE.
Polygamist Roberts Barred From Seat in
Congress-The Vote on the Resolu-
tion Was 3Oe to 80.

Congrese--The Vote on the Resolu-
tion Was Soe to 80.
Washington, Especial. by vote that
amazed everybody, tho question OF Brigham
ii. Roberts admission to the House Of Rep
resentatives as the member from Utah, was
settled. The resolution denying him seat
in tho House until a special committee had
carefully examined the charges OF polyRamy
that have been made against him was adopt
ed by vote Of 302 to 30. 1t was a majority
so overwhelming that the members could
scarcely trust their ears when II was read at
the Speakers desk. Party lines were wiped
out, and the members could hardly wait to
hear their names called by the clerk, so
eager were they to shout AYE" on the ques-
tion OF adopting the resolution. The resolu-
tion brought forward hy Mr.. Richardson, OF
Tennessee the Democratic leader, whereby
Mr.. Roberts was to be given his seat until the
charges had been examined. was defeated
by vote of 247 to 80. 1t Is evident from
these figures that Mr. Roberts will be OK,
PEELED II ever that motion is made, as there
is plainly two-thrds majority opposed to
his presence in the House. This motion Will
hardly be made, however. 1t is assumed
that the committee after fortnights in
vestigation, will bring in II report declaring
that the charges OF polygamy are true, and
that It will recommend that the seat be de-
clared vacant.
This form of the resolution Is the more
likely, because Mr.. Roberts made good i'm
preston by his address. He spoke well, and
brought out some good legal points. The
remarkably heavy opposition vote was prob
ably due to his charge that President Nc
Kinley had appointed several federal Office
holders In Utah, knowing them to be poly
gamist and that the Senate had confirmed
the appointments in spite of this knowledge.
Accordingly, many Republicans voted
against him to show their contempt for this
allegation. and as vote of confidence In
the President.
There Is an angry demand in some quar-
ters that the special investigating commit
tee should report back u resolution OF ex-
pulsion in n few days to punish Mr.. Roberts
for this charge; but wiser counses will
probably prevail and the seat will be de-
clared vacant.
The fight against Mr.. Roberts was led by
Representative Tayler, OF Ohio. Mr.. Tay-
Ter represents President McKinley's old dis
trict He is warm friend of the Presidents,
and 1t was generally understood that he was
speaking President McKinleys sentiments.
Mr.. Tayler's address was a legal discussion
OF Mr. Roberts right 1t showed an ex-
haustive study OF the law and OF the pre-
cedents. point that he made was dis
proved by the vote. Mr.. Tayler admitted
that his resolution proposed an unusual
method OF procedure, but it was justified, he
said, by the grave probability that 1t would
be impossible to muster n two-thirds vote to
expel Mr.. Roberts II he was once seated.
How very mistaken Mr.. Tayler was in his
estimates was revealed by the vote. As
matter of fact, Mr.. Roberts could be expeled
if 1t required three-fourths vote.
The audience was pretty well tired out be-
fore the play began. Since twelve o'clock
it had sat in tho galleries listening nearly all
that time to the droning voices of the clerks
who were reading the Presidents message.
Few members remained in the House during
the reading. Mr.. Roberts came In early and
sat off by himself on one side of the House.
He made no effort to mngle with the Demo-
Gratis, because he had recognized that they
Stunned him.