The evening times., 1899-12-01

morning prints what it claims to be +,
the members of the House OF Representa-.
tives as TO their attitude respecting tn,
seating of Brigham H. Roberts. Represen.
tative-eleet from Utah. 1t is stated il
| substance that of responses received from
more than two-thirds Of the members, bu
two, Mr.. Lewis of Georgia, and Mr.. Smith
of Michigan, declare themselves in favor
of admitting Mr.. Roberts regardless of the
charge brought against him.
| While more than one-third of the men,
bers express themselves emphatically as
| intending to vote against seating Mr.. Rob-
| erts, this proposition does not by any
| means indicate the whole number OF those
who will SO vote. Many new members
| who have not yet taken their seats are
| disinclined to express their opinions for
publication. There are many who take the
| ground that 1t would be improper for them
| to announce in advance their opinion in a
| case on which they are to sit in judgment.
| In almost every instance these members,
while giving -committal interviews f.r
publication, privately admit that they ei-
pect the evidence to be such as to warrant
them in voting against Mr.. Roberts. II is
probable that Mr.. Roberts will be sworn
| in when Congress assemblies. Then Will
come the proceedings to expel him.
When Mr. Roberts was told OF the result
of the canvas made by the Herald" he
is quoted as saying:
IF that be the condition, the members
of the House have prejudged the case, and
have not word TO say now"
Expressions of Opinion.
Mr.. Roberts will, notwithstanding his
comment. have an important hearing be-
fore the House of Representatives, al
though the prependerating sentiment OF the
members is against permitting him to re-
tain his seat. if the facts in his case are as
charged. Some of the expressions of opin-
ion by members, were as follows:
Mr. Curtis of Kansas-You may put me
down as opposed to Roberts. ! do not
think his contention that the fact that he
has lived in polygamy since the State was
admitted is not in violation of the agree
ment with the United States is sound.
That agreement, as contained in the en-
abling act and the Utah constitution. made
polygamy unlawful. The continuance in
poiygamy is as unlawful as the contract
ing of new marriages.
Mr.. Kahn of California; am unaltera-
bly, opposed to polygamy, but I have not
quite made up my mind on the Roberts
case. l think u general law should be
passed excluding polygamists from all Of
fees rather than a special law for one in
dividual.
Mr.. Burleigh of Maine-I am against him
at every stage of the proceedings.
Considers Utah Fresumptuous.
Mr.. Reeder of Kansas am against
Roberts. ] think it presumptuous in
law-breaker to wish TO pose as law
maker, and l think it was presumptuous
in the State OF Utah TO choose polygamist
10 represent her
Mr.. Boutell of Illinois, am opposed to
seating Mr.. Roberts. We cannot fail to
recognize that polygamy is abhorrent to
our people and that it cannot receive OH
cial endorsement.
Mr.. Hull of Iowa. told my psople be-
fore left Iowa that | intended TO vote to
unseat Mr.. Roberts. and | certainly shall
do SO unless he is able to prove that the
charges against him are unfounded. l
would place the burden of proof upon him.
Mr. GiIlett of Massachusetts, am un-
alterably opposed to Mr.. Roberts remain
ing a member of the coming Congress.
Mr.. Shattuc of Ohio-If Mr.. Roberts
tells the truth about himself he ought TO
be expelled from the House.
Mr.. Neviil of Nebraska-If 1 can con-
sistently vote against the seating OF
Roberts, believing that l have tie lawful
right to do so | shall oppose him. II,
however, it develops that under our laws
and Constitution Roberts has the abso-
lutte right TO seat in Congress, although
against my inclinations, | shall vote for
his retention. / don't believe that polyg-
amy has the right to exist anywhere under
the American flag. If Roberts is seated.
has he not the right TO bring all three of
his wives here TO Washington and to live
with them openly.
Mr.. Cushman of Washington-There is
no doubt in my mind that the Republican
majority in the Fifty-sixth Congress will
unseat Mr.. B. Fl. Roberts of Utah. The
Republican party. l think, is almost unit
ed on that subject in response to the in
tellect and the virtue of the American
people. who are arrayed against the spec
tacle of a Poiygamist in the halls of Con-
gress. The main question remaining for
decision is the method of procedure and
the time when action shall be taken.
There is serious doubt in my mind if
he can be prevented from taking the oath.
The House has power to expel a member.
The very form of the word "expel'' pre-
supposes a member being already in. In
my judgment it would be dangerous pre-
cedent to decide this matter when the
offers himself 70 take the |
oath.
Mr.. Underhill of New York. am, of |
course, opposed to polygamy, but 1 doubt |
the legality of Roberts expulsion. / fear,
too, that it would furnish a bad precedent. |
Next year they may want to eXpel a man |
because he is a Hebrew or a free silver |
man. If the people of the United States
want polygamists kept out. they should |
pass a general statute or should convict |
Roberts of a crime and not expel him !
through sentiment.
Among the Members.
Representatives Levy, Bradley Rupert, |
Scudden. and Littaper of New York want |
% see proofs before announcing how they |
will vote; Chickering is -committal;
Ryan and Vreeland are opposed to seating
Roberts; Fitzgerald declines to express
opinion. and Muller is nom -committal. I'm
ierwood of Alabama wants to hear the evil
ience: Swanson of Virginia is inclined to
,ote against Roberts; Mr. Hit of Illinois
leclined to express an opinion; Mr.. Brom-
we'll Of Ohio is opposed to Roberts, and
Mr.. Gordon of the same State is non
,ommittal. Mr.. Lloyd of Missouri, Mr..
Loudenslager of New Jersey, Mr. Farris
If Indiana. and Mr.. Long of Kansas, are
prepared to vote against Roberts if the |
.vidence justifies such action.
Mr.. Cochran. of Missouri, is non-com-
initial as to Roberts, but believes a con-
'titutional amendment should be adopted
lepriving Polygamists of the right to vote
n Federal or Congressional elections.
Fleming, OF Georgia; McLain of Missis- |