The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-05

Richardson I'M a neat speech introduced
him. and in response to the hearty
cheers he addressed the House as fol-
lows:
ADDRESS OF THE SPEAKER.
Gentlemen of the House of Represen-
tatives:
The voice Of this House has called
me to grave responsibilities. For that
call | am most profoundly grateful, and
/ am lxeemiy sensible of the weight oil
the responsibilities that attach to this
great office | am encouraged, how
ever, by the thought that no member OF
this body can escape responsibility,
either to his people on to his country
All of us are under bonds 10 do our
best.
''The APPROVAL Of the country, the
approval of ones OWN conscience, the
attainment of great results, are not Sc
cured 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 it will De my aim
and pleasure to impartially administer
the laws adopted for our government,
hut no Speaker can be successful unless
be has the cooperation of the mem
bers of this House.
.srhe generous partiality and kind
ness 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 ard supporting disposition
of those constituting this great body.
Il am ready to take the cath of of
fee.''
In accordance with the time e-honored
custom. the oldest member of the House
in point of service. MIR. Hammer. of
PENNSYLVANIA, who has served "A years
in the lower branch of Congress, ad-
rfinistered the oath to the Speaker.
Another round of applause followed IN
which the galleries joined The Speaker
then announced that the oath would be
administered to the members by States.
As the names of the members we're cali
ed they appeared at the bar in groups
Of about a dozen and there with raised
hands were sworn in by the Speaker.
THE ROBERTS INCIDENT.
The moment for which all present We're
anxiously waiting came when the State
Of Utah and Mr. Roberts name were
called. Instantly Il hush fell upon the
assembly. Mr.. Tayler. of Ohio. was on
his feet asking for recognition. The
Speaker recognized him imme diately.
II object to the swearing in Of the
Relyresentative-elect from Utah and to
his taking his seat began Mr.. Tay-
Ter in d clear, distinct voice.
Il do so, Mr.. Speaker, he continued.
sson my own responsibility as member
fin -
riors ard apparently well grounded
charges Of ineIigibility are made against
him. A transcript of the proceedings
in court in Utah evidences the fact that
the claimant was in 1851 convicted or
that he plead guilty OF the crime OF uii-
lawful cohabitation. Affidavits and
other pap..rs in my possession indicate
that ever since then he has been persist
emily guilty of the same crime, and that
ever since then he mas been and Is now
a polygamist. II this transcript anu
these affidavits and papers tell the
truth. the member-elect from Ofan IS,
IN my judgment, ineligible to be 4 mem
Der of this House of Representatives
both because of the statutory disqualli-
cation of the Edmunds Law. and TOR
higher and gTaver and quite Is souhd
reasons. i ought also to say. III addi-
ton to what j have just said, that l
have in my possession certlhed copy
of the entry under which the CLAIMANT
to this seat was naturalized and thal
eminent counsel assert that it it be the
record in the case this claimant IS nor
citizen of the United States. ! offef
and express mo opinion upon that propo-
sition.
Mr. Speaker, if it were possible TO
emphasize the gravity Of those charges
and the responsibility that it at this
moment imposes upon the House, we
will find that emphasis III the memorials
4 small part of which could be physi-
cally cared for III this hall, but all
of which ] now present to the House,
from over 100000 American men and
women protesting against the entrance
of this Representative-elect from
Utah.
marks Mr.. Mcitae Democrat, Ark),
briefly expressed his concurrence in the
protest of Mr.. Taylor.
..In view Of the objection said the
Speaker, addressing him, the gentle
man will step aside.
IL do so. replied Mr.. Roberts, with
waive none of my rights"
None Of the gentleman's rights viii
be lost" said the Speaker, and MIR
Roberts thereupon retired quietly to his
seat. There was no demonstration either
on the floor or in the galleries.
The remaining members were then
sworn in after which Mr.. Tayler imme-
diately offered his resolution to refer
the case of Mr. Roberts to a special
committee. The resolution was as fol-
Lows:
Whereas, it is charged that Brigham
II. Roberts, a Representative-elect TO
the Fifty-Sixth Congress from the State
Of Utah. is ineligible to a seat in the
House Of Representatives, and,
"Whereas. such charge is made
through a member Of the House on his
responsibility as such member, and, on
the basis, as he asserts Of public rec
ords. affdayits and papers eyidencing
such inelgibiity,
..Resolyed, that the question of the
prima facie right of Brigham III. Rob
erts to he sworn in as Representa-
five from the State Of Utah in the
Fifty-sixth Congress as well as his final
right to a seat therein as such Repre-
sentative. be referred TO special COM
49,, ,,,aY,larc of thn Honca