The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-02
OBJECTION TO Be MADE
An Investigation Before Roberts
Takes His Seat.
THE PLAN is OUTLINED
Republican Leaders Determine Mode
OF Procedure-The Question Will
Not Be Made a Party
Issue.

/ Washington, Dec. 1-At a conference
of about 25 prominent republicans held
at the capitol tonight it was decided
that the eligibility of Representative
| elect Roberts of Utah to occupy seat
| in the house. should be investigated and
determined and that pending the de-
cision he should not be permitted to
| take the oath Of office.
This decision was arrived at by those
present without dissenting voice. Rep
resentative Taylor of Ohio, who will
have charge of the matter in the house,
explained, after the conference had ad-
| journed, that this proceeding does not
involve a prejudgment of the case but,
irrespective Of party, will afford the
members an opportunity to vote after
a thorough investigation and compile 1e
presentation Of the case for their con
sideration.
Mr.. Taylor has made a study Of the
allegations and precedents and pre-
sented them at length to his colleagues
He offered plan of procedure, which
was agreed to after a general exchange
| or views. The procedure. is to be as
follows:
When Roberts appears at the bar of
| the house to take the oath, objection is
|
| ineligible He will then step aside.
| and after the other members are sworn
| in the member making the objection,
| who probably will be Mr. Taylor will
recite the allegations and offer a reso-
| luton for their investigation by spea-
cial committee This will give the
| house an opportunity to vote in the
| first instance upon the question of post
poning the administration of the oath
unit after the allegations have been in
! vestigated. The resolutions have not
! been formulated yet, but they will in
clude the investigation of the charge
whether Mr.. Roberts alleged violation
Of the Edmunds act in 1898 renders him
ineligible by the terms Of that act;
whether the fact that he is an avowed
polygamist renders him ineligible, and
whether the state of Utah, in electing
him, has not violated the compact by
which she obtained statehood:
Mr.. Taylor says the precedents for
objection to the swearing in of menl-
her duly elected and bearing proper
credentials are numerous and in point.
Among others are the well known
cases of Proctor Knott. Boyd Winches
ter and John M. Rice of Kentucky, who
We're elected to congress shortly after
the, war, and also were charged with
ineligibility on the ground of disloy-
atty. All these precedents were cited at
the conference tonight These prece-
dents lead to the conclusion that OBJ
lection can be properly made to the
swearing in of member where there
are apparently we'll grounded reasons
for believing him ineligible. The reso-
lutions will provide for the appoint
ment of a special committee of either
seven or nine, to be appointed by the
speaker
Representative Powers of Vermont
presided at the conference tonight
Those present were Messrs. Henderson
Of Iowa, Grosvenor, Southar. Shattuck.
Kerr and Taylor of Ohio, Powers of
Vermont, Mcpherson of Iowa, Dalzell
of Pennsylvania, Payne and Sherman
of New York, Hill of Connecticut,
Thomas of Iowa. Alexander and Ray of
New York, Curtis of Kansas, Warner
of Illinois, Lands of Indiana Cannon
of Illinois, Morris of Minnesota, Steele
of Indiana and Long of Kansas.
The Roberts case is not to come up
for consideration at the republican
caucus tomorrow night. The republican
leaders do not desire to make the ques-
tion in any sense party issue.