The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-05

ssssion a certified copy of the entry under.
which the claimant to this seat was natur-
alixed. and that eminent counsel assert
that. II this be the record in the case.
this claimant IL not n citizen Of the Uni
ted States. I offer and express no opinion
upon that proposition.
Mr. Speaker, IL It were possible to em-'
phasixe the gravity Of these charges and
the responsibility that Is Mt this moment
imposed upon this house, We will find that
emphasis In the memorials. small part
Of which could be physically cared for In
this hall. but all OF which I now present to
this house from over 100000 American
men and women. protesting against the en-
trance Of this representative-elect from
Utah."
Democrat Also objects.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Taylor's re-
marks. McRae Democrat. OF Arkansas.
expressed his concurrence In the protest OF
Taylor: IF the charges hanging over the
head OF the representative-elect are true"
he said, ''his being sworn in would be an
assault upon every American home II
true" he said, ,"Mr Roberts was guilty
Of violation of the laws of the United
States and OF Utah, and the charges should
be investigated. II they were proven true"
he said emphaticaly. in conclusion, there
should not be vote In the house in favor
OF allowing him a seat in this body"
Roberts Reserves His Rights.
Meantime Mr.. Roberts had advanced to
the head OF the aisle and stood there irreso-
luteiy
an view of the objection said the
speaker, addressing him, ''the gentleman
will step aside"
II do so,'' replied Mr.. Roberts. with the
understanding that by my action l waive
none OF my rights
None of the gentleman's rights win he
lost" said the speaker, and Mr.. Roberts
thereupon retired quietly to his seat.
There was no demonstration either on
the floor or in the galleries.
The members were then sworn In. after
which Taylor offered his resolution to re-
fer the case of Roberts to special COM
mittee. The resolution was as follows:
Text of the Resolution.
"whereas. It Is charged That Brigham Fl.
Roberts, representative elect to the FIJI.
ty-sixth congress. from the state Of Utah.
ia ineligible to a seat In the house Of rep
resentatives; and
whereas. Such a charge Is made
through a member of the house, on his
responsibility as such member. and on the
! baeis, as he asserts, Of public records, af-
fidavits and papers cvidencIns such ineliss-
bility:
RESOLVED. That the question Of the prima
sworn In as a representative be referred to
a special committee Of nine members OF
the house, to be appointed by the speaker.
and, until such committee shall report upon
and the house decide such question and
right. the said Brigham H. Roberts shall
not be sworn in or be permitted to occupy
q seat in this house; and said committee
shall have power to send for persons and
papers and examine witnesses. on oath, In
relation to the subject matter OF this reso-
luton"
House Elects Omcers.
An agreement was then reached by which
consideration of the resolution should be
postponed until tomorrow. after the read
ing of the presidents message. The excite
ment thereafter subsidized and many spec
tators left the galleries. The officers Of the
house, elected by the Republican caucus
last Saturday. were then elected. Alexan-
der Mcdowell, of Pennsylvania. clerk;
Henry Casson. Of Wisconsin. sergearit-at-
arms; w. J. Glenn, Of New York. doorkeep-
err and J. r. McElroy, of Ohio. postmaster;
after which the usual resolutions were
adopted to inform the president and the
senate of the organization Of the house.
A committee Of three, consisting Of
Messrs Cannon. Republican, Of Illinois:
Payne, Republican, Of New York, and
Richardson, Democrat, Of Tennessee. were
appointed TO Join a similar committee from
the senate to wait upon the president and
inform him that congress was in session
and ready to receive any communication he
might have to make.
Adopts Reed Rules.
Dalzell, Republican, Of Pennsylvania,
one Of the Republican floor leaders, then
preciptated short but lively debate by
offering resolution for the adoption of
the rules of the last congress. They were
the rules of three congresses. he said. and
their operation had proved their value.
Bailey, Democrat, of Texas. protested
against forcing the rules OF the last house
permanently upon the present house with
out warning or consideration but he ex-
pressed Willingness to see them adopted
temporarily until others could be framed.
Protest OF the Minority.
Richardson, Democrat, of Tennessee, In
dorsed what his colleague had said. but,
from what the public press had sai6 he
realized how hopeless resistance would be.
Nevertheless he protested In the name of
the minority. He good-naturedly chided
Hepburn, Republican, Of Iowa, who fire.
quently complained of the rules in the last
congress, for not leading his partisans in
a fight for their reformation. Had he done
so, Richardson said, the minority would
have been glad to Join him.
Bailey followed with some specific criti-
cism of the rules and their operation.
Hepburn, replying 10, Richardson, admit
ted that he favored some notifications. but
he frankly stated that his colleagues in
the Republican caucus had been opposed to
him, and that he had yielded to their unit
ed wisdom.
Flowers for the Speaker.
Dalzell then moved the previous question.
which was ordered, and the vote was taxi
en- by yeas and nays upon the adoption OF
the rules of the last congress.
While the roll was being called a large
floral gavel from the Union Veterans
Union, of Dubuque, Iowa, and a beautiful
basket of flowers from his old comrades of
Hyde post, G. A. r., of Dubuque, were
placed on the speakers desk.
The resolution for the adoption Of the
rules were carried. III to 1853.
A resolution for the biennial seat drawing
was then adopted by unanimous consent,
Grow of Pennsylvania, as an ex-speaker
OF the house, and Harmer Of Pennsylvania,
the oldest member being granted the privi-