The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-02
THE ROBER rs CASE
viii Be Brought to ! Focus ~ d o..
lection Being Raised
BEFORE HE HAS TAKEN OATH.
In that Case Other Objections will
Follow and Chaos VIII Reign.
THE LEADERSHIP FIGHT IS STILL ON.
Richardson Is In the lead, with Bankhead
and De Almond Close Up.
THE CAUCUS WILL HAVE TO DECIDE II
After II Has Rcen Assemblcd-ssuixer
Followers Claim to he Hopeful OF
victory In the End.
Richardson Is In the lead, with Bankhead
and De Almond Close Up.
HE CAUCUS WILL HAVE TO DECIDE II
fsnecinl TO Tho pnat !

II Especial to Tho Post,)
i Washington, December 1.--About forty
or fifty republicans, including General
Henderson, held conference tonight on
the Roberts case and It was decided by
a majority vote to appoint man to oh
ject at the proper time to the swearing In
of Roberts.
II this is done somebody is going to
do some Directing to somebody else aud
general chaos Will reign supreme Monday
ON the floor OF the house Roberts was
advised today TO get tho floor, raise Cain
| with his critics aud then resign, but It
is believed no will mako dsht to the
| last ditch.
Washington, December lat a con-
| ference OF about twenty-five prominent
house republicans held at the capitol
tonight IL was decided that the eligibility
of Representative elect Roberts of Utah to
occupy seat in the house of representa-
tlves should be investigated and deser-
mined, and that pending the decision he
should not be permitted TO take the oath
| OF office.
This decision was arrived ut by those
| present without n dissenting voice. Rep
resentative Taylor OF Ohio, who Will have
charge of the matter III the house. OK
lplnined after the conference had adjourned
! that this proceeding does not involve Il
! prejudgment OF the case. but, irrespective
of party viii AFFORD the members oppor-
tunity to vote after presentation OF the
case for consideration, Mr. Taylor had
made a study of the allegations and pre-
cedants and reported them at length to
his colleagues. He offered n plan OF pro
ceduro. which was agreed TO after gen
eral exchange OF views.
| The procedure is 10 be as follows.
When Mr. Roberts appears at The bar OF
the house to take the oath. objection ia to
be made upon the ground that he is in
| eligible. He viii then step aside and after
the other members are sworn in, the mem
Der making the objection will recite the
allegations and offer resolution for their
investigation by special committee. This
VIII give the house an opportunity to vote
In the first instance upon the question OF
postponing the administration Of the oath
until after the allegations have been In
yestisated.
The resolutions have not been form
ulated yet, but they will include the in
yestigation OF the charge that Mr.. Roberts
alleged conviction OF violation OF tho
Edmunds act in 1882 renders him ineligible
by the terms OF that act; whether tho
fact that he is an avowed polygamlst rem
dors him Ineligible and whether the State
OF Utah in electlng him has not violated
the compact by which she Obtained State
hood.
Mr. Taylor says tho presidents for OBJ
jectIns to the swearing in OF n member
duly elected and bearing proper credentials
are numerous and in point. Among others
are tho well -known cases OF Proctor Knott.
Boyd Winchester and John NJ. Rice OF
Kentucky. who were elected TO congress
shortly after the war and also were
charged with inellgibility on the ground
OF diBloyalty.