Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-06
TIE HOUSE AGAINST ROBERTS
Taylor's Resolution Adopted by Three
Hundred and Two to Thirty.

ldy lUI uUouluilUA Auops0u W AAAeS
Hundred and Two to Thirty.
a COMMITTEE, INCLUDING HON.
ROMEO H. FREER, OF WEST vIR-
GINA, APPOINTED TO INVESTI-
GATE THE CHARGES AND RE-
PORT TO THE HOUSE-ROBERTS
MADE A REMARKABLE AD-
DRESS, AND DREW FORTH AP-
PLAUSE FROM THE GALLERIES.
WASHINGTON, D. c., December 81
After an interesting debate of three
hours, the House to-day by vote OF
BOZ to 80 adopted the resolution offered
by Mr.. Taylor, of Ohio, yesterday, for
The appointment of special committee
10 investigate the charges against Brig
ham H. Roberts, the Mormon Repre-
sentative-elect fromUtah.
Previously the House had rejected a
substitute resolution offered by Mr..
Richardson. the leader of the minority,
to allow Mr. Roberts to be sworn in
and to send the whole case to the judic-
larry committee. This substitute reso-
luton, however, by no means command
ed the full Democratic strength. Only
81 members voted for it. OF the 80 who
then voted against the Taylor resolu-
ton, all were Democrats except two,
MIR. Loud, a California Republican, and
Mr.. Newlands, a Silverite, from Ne
vada.
BY the terms of the resolution, Mr..
Roberts is now not only excluded from
all participation in the proceedings of
the House until the committee reports
and the House passes upon his case,
but he Is denied a seat in the hail.
Whether this will be interpreted to
deny him admission within the cham
Der pending the disposition of his case
is yet 10 be decided.
The reading of the Presidents mes
sage was completely overshadowed by
the dramatic proceedings which result
ed in the action Of the House to-day
The galleries were thronged with spec
tators, mostly women, who sat patient
~ through the three weary hours that
preceded the debate and >tnen waited on
three hours more until it was conclud-
ed
The most remarkable feature of the
debate was the fact that Mr.. Roberts
presentation of his own side of the case,
which lasted almost an hour, became so
absorbing that he won the sympathy
of many of those in the galleries and
was several times showered with APP
plause. IL was evident that he realized
that the House was overwhelmingly
against him and at times he spoke
tiercely and definitely.
At II o'clock Speaker Henderson
called the members TO order. All arose
in their places, Mr.. Roberts included
and stood with bowed heads while the
chaplain delivered his invocation. At
ter the reading Of the journal had con-
cluded, Mr. Cannon from the commit
tee appointed yesterday reported that
the President would communicate in
writing. Immediately thereafter Major
Pruden, the Presidents executive clerk,
announced the message and it was at
once laid before the House.
The reading Of the message consumed
two and one-half hours and at the
conclusion the Republicans gave it
hearty round of applause.
The Speaker then laid before the
House Mr.. Taylor's resolution to refer
the Roberts case In accordance with
the agreement of yesterday.
Mr.. Taylor took the floor. 1t was ar
har CHI he
hours debate. one half on each side.
one half hour to be allowed Mr. Rob-
erts to come out of the time CT the mi
nority. This arrangement having been
made, Mr.. Richardson, the Democratic
leader gave notice of a substitute he
would offer as follows:
Whereas, Brigham H. Roberts, from
the State Of Utah, has presented a GER
tificate Of election in due, and proper
form as representative from said
State, therefore, be it,
Resolved, That without expressing
any opinion as to the right or propriety
of his retaining his seat in advance of
any proper investigation thereof, the
said Brigham II. Roberts is entitled to
De sworn IN as a member Of this House
upon his prima facie case.
Resolved further. that when sworn
in his credentials and all the papers
in relation to his right to retain his seat
be referred 10 the committee on the in
dietary with the instructions to renort
thereon at the earliest practicable mo-
ment.
Mr.. Taylor then opened his speech
In favor of the adoption of his resolu-
ton. He would not urge its adoption
ne said, were he not prompted bv a
high sense Of duty. The constitution
was inconsistent, he continued. if it
was contended that the limitations il
imposed were not to be added to. The
power of Congress to halt the claimant
at the door he insisted, was clear.
The ineligibility created by conyic-
ton for crime was power inherent
In government irrespective of the con-
stitution. He cited several cases 10
show that as punishment for crime
the Legislature had ample authority
to disqualify man from holding Of
fee.
When Mr.. Taylor began to speak
MIR. Roberts left the seat he had been
occupying and took a seat near the
main aisle, where he could hear with
greater ease. Throughout Mr.. Tay-
lor's remarks he sat facing his accus-
ers, except when he turned to his desk
to take notes of the points to which
he desired to reply.