The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-06
ROBERTS NOT ADMITTED.
THE HoUsE DECLINES TO LET MN
TAKE mrs SEAT NoT

4 Defiant speech From Roberts-Gros-
,emor Denies That the President Know
ingly Appointed n Polygamist to once.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 5 by a vote OF more than
ten to one to-day the House OF Representatives
decided that It would not permit Re preventative.
elect brigham II. Roberts OF Utah to take the
on,h until the charges against him had been in-
yr-tieated by a special committee. This result
wa assured yesterday when Mr. McRae OF Ar
kansas Joined MIR. Tayler OF Ohio in Directing
t,hi, cling sworn but the immense majority
was a surprise to every one.
The discussion on the resolution referring
RobertSs title 10 a seat to special committee
followed the reading IT the Presidents message
and attracted much more interest and attention
than that document. Messrs Tayler OF Ohio.
L,rhtrd-on Of tennessee al Roberts himself
v,ro the principal speakers. Mr.. Tayler
oIcncG and closed the de bate. making legal
argument to sustain tho contention that
the House hal the right htd tho power
~ .top Roberts from taking tho oath
erl that Roberts was Ineligible to a seat
uuon the facts alleged II was an effective
presentation OF the case and had the support
of a great majority OF the House. Mr. Richard-
son asserted that member.e Get with u pro-
Ter certificate must b. seated and the question
Of nelgttility considered later. Roberts in
III uwn behalf was tho star performer and.
Iao tho villain In the play, although he COM
maui / admiration by the ability and courage
wi'h wnlch no defended himself he failed to
gam the sympathy Of his audience. 1t Is the
impression that he hurt rather than helped
himself A sensational episode was furnished
in three minute speech by Gen. Grosvcnor
who Indignantly repudiated Roberts's asser.
ton that tho President had knowingly ap-
pointed TO ofllce men guilty Of the same crime
charged against hun When the vote was
taken on the resolution II passed by 3O2 to b.
'rr negative being cast by - Democrats
Earuhllcan and silver Party man.
lEr rToc"c iings were begun when. pursuant
to'he agreement made yesterday tho Speaker
called IN the resolution introduced by Mr..
Taycr referring the question OF Mr.. Roberts,
risht to seat to a special committee OF nine
members. Mr.. Tayler took the floor TO discuss
the resolution and hrst an Arrangement was
approved by the House limiting the debate TO
an Tour and a half on each side. by the same
arrangement II was agreed that the following
resolution. offered by Mr.. Richardson as a SUBJ
s,tute for the resolution before the House.
should be considered as pending:
"Hhreds. Brigham II. Roberts from the
State Il Utah has presented certificate OF
election IN due and proper form "a n Repre-
resrn'luve from said state therefore be It
NrSOFt1, NAT WITHOUT expressing any
opinion as to tho right or prorrety OF his re-
taininH his seat In advance OF any proper
Investigation thereof tho said Brigham II.
Roberts ia entitled to be sworn in a. a IN em-
her OF this House urCIn his prima facie case.
"ktso'rei. Further. that when sworn in. his
ere !HntiaiI AMI all the papers in relation to
hiS riTh, to retain his SCAT be referred TO the
COMMITTEES on ne Judiciary with instructions
TO report thereon NJ the earliest practicable
moment"
H. b., argument Mr.. Tayler said that II Rob-
cr's vas a poly gamist. he was ineligible TO n
sea, in Congress- under the Edmunds T ucker
act. i he were u poiyGamist. as denred By the
supreme Court OF the United States he could
Be declared ineligible by Congress independent
o'any statute He warned hi- hearers against
the course proposed b. tho Richardson resolu-
ton, ~ seating the claimant ard then settling
with 'rrIr conscience- and their constituents
byvoting later to expel him. It was not W Sc TO
SUI jet the case 10 tina; doubtful process; first.
because II required a two-thirds vote 20 eNpel
second. because oil the way along the line from
m" urganization OF the Congress down TO the
present time. prominent Iurists and statesmen
hay" denied the right OF the House to expel on
charges based upon a status existing prior
10 the dato OF his election. Congress
hi> never explicitly affirmed its right
- oNpel under such conditions. while on the
other hand 1t had decided that II had not the
power He referred 10 the case o. Ma iison. In
~" Lhirty:six,h congt.s-. who, having been
his Investigations. covering hundreds o. cases
and many volumes Of records, Mr.. Tay!eE said.
J." hal found no instance IN which the House
Ia decLaTei i had no right to hall man at
IN" bar when the Question Of his e!igibinty was
l. had tn right and the rover. and in certain
inSihnSe. had exercised that rover.
Mr. THyI"r spoke nearly an hour, and as he
He was lowed by Mr. Richard ION. who said
h" rou i not unite in movement TO prevent n
lie rrceentei correct credentials showing his
RICH, thereto. The RICH, o, a member to a seat
70 establish u precedent, which he predicied
mould return 70 p.agus those who came 2 ter
rtoni susge.d ior "sc I'D" s R"Sarts n"d
not been offered ty any gentleman upon his
n csFSG- ra,nl,. a. mem"sr Il hat been
Ont, without EXPRESSING an opinion regarding
~ That was that the record Of iuraiza'ion
i;oberls citizen d, The tmited states. At lie
s' S!c o, Mt. feming Of Georsis. Mr.,
cord i as paTt Of lis r. rem MAJ
Am"mbcr OF the minority here made a re-
marx VII oh led Mr., Richardson explicitly TO
declare thnt IN this case he spoke tor himself
alone that he represented nobody or no rarty
on the ioor, but having certain convictions on
them MIR, HicnaEisnu referred to the preco-
."tJ gno,el by Taylor. SAYING that they. ,oc-
wv ~ 'H' Iet'nAlTNCilOn ptTlOu. AT n time
when Ike amendments TO the Constitution. in
III" lhnguag" nj "a distinguished senator. were
WI tten with the sword He cited other cases
y" slow tina, Mr. Roberts was entitled 20 a seat
Mr Rprnrts then took the floor in his own
Ihh4'' II" occupied "a seat near thu centre Of
NE nous" u the second row on tn" Democratic
so" On tho desk in front OF him lay a bunch
- lihk~ He wore u suit ~ black. He spoke
si'Wy, as seeking the riGht words 10 express
hlnt"', HIS manner wa- earnest. at times I'm.
lhssioncd, when his voice rang out with vlRol
ana force He was heard with remarkable Al.
Irnton on the floor and in tile galleries
throughout his statement Mr.. Roberts offered
lrsl certified cory. OF the record OF his natur.
hNzhG3n, Discussing the merits Of the case
hg slid that since his conviction upon n charge
"l mi-l"mcnnor IN 1880 there had been tive
amn"s'es from Presidents Of the United
ntht"- THE gentleman from Ohio" ne ex'
.,him'i, has no court record against mo sincC
~ li4GIamatinn of amnesty by the President
" IN" nited States
heEaiding the charge that ever since his con
N., ON II" had continued 70 be aud still was
l9,lgan-t he sal that ifhs had been guilt,
% hwhr"Rkng, why had he not been nun lsheC
.WT.oF These charges. he said orig lnateC
Hpnpt eighteen months ago. but not until uttel
~, nuein"- had called him East had an effor
zen made 70 institute proceedings again -
mn, II did not suit thos" IN charge OF Thu
hgl,hiou,' said he 10 yindicate the law q uieth