The record-union., 1899-12-08
Relating to the Refusal Of the House to
Allow Him to Take Oath Of Office.
The House Committee Appointed
to Investigate the Charges
Against Roberts Holds a Meet
ing, but Accompanies Little,
Adjourning Until 10 O'clock
This Morning.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-B. III. RoD-
ertS of Utah, who was not allowed TO
be sworn in as a Representative IN Con-
gress Of that State. has issued an
address to the American people. 1t
contains much that was said by Rob
erts on the floor of the House, and by
Richardson, who opposed the resolution
of Taylor of Ohio.
After reviewing the facts and pro-
ceedings resulting in the appointment
of the committee, he says:
1.-The member from Utah is not al
lowed to take the oath of his office, ana
a committee is appointed to try him as
to his alleged guilt of the offenses
charged. Nay, even more is granted
than was asked, at least more than was
asked upon the floor of this House, for
a hostile committee has been appointed
to inquire into the case. Its member
ship is made up entirely of those VINO
voted to adopt the method of procedure.
Not one who voted against it was al
lowed to find a place upon that COM
mittee, and if the creation of such
tribunal for such purpose be allowed
there is no reason why the committee
should not be made up of members or
one political faith-for the majority
may do as it pleases about that.
Il ask the American people to stop
and think what that may mean to this
country in times of high political eX-
element and party strife and passion.
I'D A formidable minority in the
House may be reduced either to a very
insignificant minority, or it may even
be blotted out of existence.
taf fn which q
State is entitled on the floor of the
House may be denied to it-as in the
case of Utah-for any length of time
this committee may elect to deny II
such representation. Suppose that in
this case the committee shall see proper
to proceed with reasonable expedition
to consider question involved, but what
is there to hinder delaying its action
under one preteXt or another as long
as it pleases? 1t may take week, a
month or a year to make its investiga-
tions, for it is authorized to send for
papers and persons to examine wit
nesses and is not even instructed to re-
port at as early date as possible. 1t
can prolong its investigation for two
years as well as a month, or a year. II
it SO elects, and meantime deny to
State representation, and may defeat
altogether the expressed will Of a peo-
pie of a State as to their choice of a
Representative.
IF the present Republican House can
thus deprive Utah of her representation
there is no reason why it could not
deny Virginia hers, even though she
has ten Representatives as easily as
one can be turned away from the bar
of the House, and one State as we'll as
another. if bare majority in the House
chooses to have it so. And if the pres
ent Republican House can do this in the
Utah or Virginia case. there is no rea-
son why the next Democratic House
could not proceed in like manner with
Representatives from Republican States
of procedure.
"(3) This new precedent also strikes
down the constitutional guarantee of Il
right of one accused of a crime to a
speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury of the State wherein the crime
shall have been committed The prop
osition is not to deprive me of my seat
in Congress by the presentation of rec
ords of conviction for crime before
courts in which have been found guilty
under the due forms of law. The prop
osition is to try me before the commit
tee of the House, to send for persons
and papers and witnesses to ascertain
my guilt or innocence of an alleged
misdemeanor, reported to have been
committed in Utah. 1t will be useless