Evening star., 1899-12-04

| Newlands as a committee to escort the
| Speaker TO the chair.
| There was a general outburst when the
| committee was designated.
| The committee retired to the lobby, and
! after a short wait the doors of the main
| portal of the House swung open and Gen.
| Henderson entered upon the arm of Mr.
Richardson, followed by the two other
| members of the committee In this order
| the procession moved down the main aisle
the members on either side rising and
cheering.
Gen. Henderson. who lost a limb in the
| civil war. walked haltingly with cane,
| supported on the other side by Mr. Rich
| ardson. He black frock suit and
| white tie. His florid face, with Its glow
of health. was set off by his frosted hair
and mustaChe. hen he ascended the ros-
trum Mr.. Richardson, in a neat speech, in
troduCed him. and in response to the hearty
| cheers he addressed the House as follows:
The Speakers Address
Gentlemen Of the House of Representa-
tives: The voice of this House has called
me to grave responsibilities. For that call
I am most profoundly grateful, and 1 am
keenly sensible of the weight of the re-
sponsibilities that attach to this great Office.
! am encouraged, however, by the thought
that no member of this body can escape
responsibility, either to his people or to his
| country. All of US are under bonds to do
our best.
The approval of the country. the ap.
proval of ones own conscience, the attain
ment of great results are not secured by
petty contests on narrow fields. but must
be sought and won on broad, patriotic lines
OF thought and action.
1T is my duty, as 1t will be my aim and
pleasure, to impartialiy administer the laws
adopted for our government, but no Speak
er can be successful unless he has the CO.
operation of the members of this House
THE generous paItiality and kindness
that have been shown TO me by the entire
membership here encourage me to believe
that such imperfeCtions as | may have will
| be modified by the considerate and sup
| porting disposition of those constituting
| this great body.
II am ready to take the oath of office"
The Speaker Sworn In.
In accordance with the time-honored cus-
| tenn, the oldest member of the House in
| point of service, Mr.. Harmer of Pennsyl-
vania, who has served twenty-four years
in the lower branch of Congress, admin
istered the oath to the Speaker.
| Appearing in the area in front Of the
clerks desk he read the oath to the Speak
! er. who. with uplifted hands. repeated the
| words after him. Another round of ap-
plause followed, in which the galleries
| Joined.
| The Speaker then announced that the
| oath would be administered to the mem
| bers by states. As the names of the mem
| BeTS were called tnty appeared at the par
| in groups of about a dozen. and there, with
| raised hands. were sworn in by the Speaker.
| In the Maryland delegation was John Wal
! ter Smith. who was elected governor Of his
| state in November and who will remain in
| the House until he is inaugurated governor.
| The terms of the oath was varied some
| W hat in the case of Mr.. Brosius and Mr..
Butler of Pennsylvania. who are QudkerS,
| and do not swear. but affirm. Therefore
| the oath was separately administered to
| them, the word affirm being used instead
| of swear"
| The swearing in of the ms 1lbers proceeded
| in a perfunctory way-a block of members
| at a time by the alphabetical order of
| states-unti the block including Utah was
reached.
| There was a general manifestation of in
terest and excitement as group after group
of members were disposed of, bringing the
| call closer and closer 10 the fateful mo-
ment for Mr.. Roberts
objection to Roberts.
1t was so arranged that the name of
| Roberts was the first one called of the
| small group in which he fell. Immediately
| on the call of his name he walked down
| the aisle toward the clerks desk to take
| the oath.
Instantly Mr.. Taylor of Ohio took the
| floor and protested against the oath being
| administered, on the grounds that Robertsis
| polygamist, and that il is alleged that
| he Is not a citizen.
| Mr. McRea of Arkansas (democraU sec
| Onded the objection of Mr.. TAYLOR
| The Speaker then asked MIR. Roberts to
| step aside
| Mr. Roberts replied that in stepping aside
| he did so with the understanding that he
| waived none of his rights.
| The Speaker said that none of the gem
| uemans rights would be forfeited by mis-
| stepping aside.
| Thereupon Roberts returned to his seat
| without further remark
Mr- Taylor then introduced a resolution
| referring the case Of Roberts to a commit
| tee OF nine, TO be appointed by the Speaker
| Resolution to Investigate.
| The following is the text of Mr. Taylers
| resolution for the appointment of a special
| committee to investigate the Roberts case:
| Whereas 1t is charged that Brigham n
| Roberts, represeHtative-elect to the FYftv-
| sixth Congress from the state of Utah is
| Ineligible TO d seat in the House of Repre-
| sentatiVes. and
| Whereas such charge is made through
| member of the House on his responsible
ity as such member, and on the basis, as
| he asserts. of public records, afiidavits and
| papers evidencing such ineligiblity,
| Resolved, That the question OF the prima
| facie right of Brigham II. Roberts to be
| sworn In as a representative from the state
| Of Utah in the Fifty-sixth Congress, as
| well as his final right to seat therein as
! such representative, be referred to a Spe-
| cial 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 II. Roberts shall not he
| sworn in or be permitted to occupy n seat
| in this House; and said committee shall
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