The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-05
ALL EYES
ON ROBERTS.
Gallery of the House Packed
With Women
Anxious to Get a Look at the
Mormon Congressman.
HE TAKES HIS PLACE
And Participates In the Pro-
ceedings With the Rest.
Presidents Message Is Read
to Both Houses.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The galleries
of the house today were almost as
crowded as on yesterday, the debate on
the Roberts case being the attraction.
The reading of the presidents message
usually a great attraction, was COM
pletely OVershadOWed by the universal
interest in the disposition of the case of
the Mormon representative from Utah.
The fact that three-fourths of the spec
tatOrs in the galleries were women was
particularly noticeable and was
tangible manifestation of the interest
of the fair sex in the result.
Mr.. Roberts himself entered the hall
about 80 and Immediately became
the cynOsure of all eyes. Just before
the house convened he took the seat
selected yesterday on the extreme right
of the Democratic side. No arrange
ments as to the time to be made avail
able nor debate upon the resolution
had been reached before the house as
sembled.
At u O'Clock Speaker Henderson call
ed the members to order. All arose in
their places, Mr.. Roberts included and
stood with bowed heads While the
chaplain delivered his Invocation. After
the reading of the journal had been
concluded Mr. Cannon from the COM
mittee appointed yesterday to wait on
the president reported that the presi-
dent would communicate IN writing.
Immediately thereafter Major Pruden.
the Presidents executive clerk an
nOunced the message and 1t was at
once laid before the house. The mem
bers listened attentively to the read
ing.
The reading of the message consumed
two and One-half hours and at the con-
clusiOn the Republicans gaVeit a hearty
round of applause
Mr. Payne CRep., n. V. the floor
leader of the majority, Immediately
moved that the message be referred to
the committee of the whole on the
state of the union and ordered printed.
Mr.. Grow (Rep.. Pa.) expressed a de-
declared out of order. The speaker then
laid before the house Mr.. Taylor's resO-
luton to refer the Roberts case in ac-
cordance with the agreement of yester-
day.
Mr.. Taylor contended first that Mr..
Roberts conviction of violations of the
Edmunds law in 1889 rendered him in
eligible by the eighth section of that
act, second that if since guilty of
poIygamy he is still ineligible under
that act, third that if a pOlygamiSt
within the meaning of the decision of
the supreme court he is ineligible in
dependent of that statute; fourth that
the compact between Utah and the
United States justifies the house in re-
fusing him admission. Mr.. Taylor
urged that it would be better for the
house to exclude Mr.. Roberts than to
eXpel him. All the authorities, he said,
We're against the right of the house to
expeI a member for acts done prior to
his election, no matter how vile they
might be.
THE SENATE
Washington. Dec. 5.-Another sorrow
had fallen upon the senate before it
convened in today's session. To most
of the senators the announcement of the
death of SenatOr-elect Hayward of Ne
braska had been communicated While
he was not officially a member of the
body, he was in every other sense re-
garded as one of the senate.
Reference was made by the chaplain
in his opening invocation to the demise
of Senator Hayward.
Mr.. Platt (Conn) and Mr.. Jones
(Ark) the committee appointed upon
the part of the senate to wait upon the
president, reported that duty had been
performed
The president said Mr.. Plat, ''ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the assem-
bling of congress and hoped that great
good to the country might result from
the deliberations"
Mr.. Turley CTenn.) presented his col
league, Mr. Bate, at the desk of the
president, and President Frye admin
istered to Mr.. Bate the oath of office.
Major o. L. Pruden. assistant sec
retary to the president was then rec
ogrized by the chair and presented to
the senate the message of the presi-
dent.
At 1906 p m. the reading of the mes
sage was begun by the clerks.
At 2:3S p. m, the senate adjourned.
NOT ON THE ROLL.
Washington, Dec. Sit developed
that Mr. Roberts name was not on the
OTT1c1aI roll call OF the mouse so that
in case of a vote or other action by the
house he would not be a participant.
This was in accord with all precedents.
Representative Richardson the
Democratic floor leader, said that no
exception could be taken to this pro-
cedure.
ROBERTS HAS HIS PAPERS.
Washington, Dec 5--Nr. Roberts
who will make a personal defense in
his own behalf has his original certifi-
cate of naturalization, which eminent
3 lawyers of the house who have ex-
amined pronounce as genuine and
regular 1t is believed that the charge
that Mr.. Roberts was not legally nat
uralized can not hold.
SENATE BILL WELL RECEIVED.
Washington, Dec. 5--The finance bill
made public yesterday was we'll re-
: ceived by the Republican members of
the house who framed the house bill
Mr.. OVerStreet (Ind) who introduced
{ the house bill said that little difficulty
! was anticipated in reconciling the two
measures. The bonding feature Of the
( senate bill was the chief point of diff
/ ference from the house bill and beyond
/ this he said the bills proceeded sub
/ stantially on the same lines, the differ
( ences being those Of phraseOlogy- Mr..
( OVerstreet expressed the belief that
( these differences could readily be ad-
/ justed in conference committee
The Michigan Republican delegation
/ in the house held caucus today and
) unanimously decided to support the
J house financial bill
/ TAWNEY'S RESOLUTION
| Washington, Dec .-Representative
4 Tawney Of Minnesota today introduced
/ in the house a resolution for the crea-
/ tion of q committee of II members &c
| be known as the committee on insulaI