Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-06
NO SEAT FOR ROBERTS.

By vote of nearly ten TO one the
House yesterday decided that it would
not permit Rspresentatlve-elect Brigh-
am 3. RoDerts, of Utah, to take the
oath until The charges against him had
ooen Investigated by Especial Commit
70 This result was assured when Mr..
McRAe joiued Mr.. Tayler in objtctiDg
TO his being sworn, but the great majorily
tor che resolution offered by Mr.. Tayler
| was surprise to everyone. Messrs.
! Fayler, Richardson and Roberts were
the priccipal speakers.
The former opened and closed, max
ing legal argument to sustain the con-
tention that The House had the right
and the power to stop Mr.. Roberts from
taking the oath, anu that the latter was
Ineligible to the seat upon the facts al
legged. Mr.. Richardson insisted that q
ember-slecs with proper certificate
must be seated and the question of in.
eligibility considered later. Mr.. Rob-
erts, in his own behalf. commanded
admiration by the ability and courage
with which he defended himself. He
spoke slowly, as if seeking the right
word to express himself. His manner
was earnest and at times impassioned.
Mr.. Roberts offered first certified
copy OF the record OF his naturalization,
following with q reading from "Mc-
Creary on Elections" of the reasons
why contests of elections should not be
entertained nor prosecuted except upon
the most serious grounds. "If that be
the law" demanded MIR. Roberts il
stentorian tones, sin cases where for
NAL contests are made, now much more
should it be enforced in case where
only a mere protest is made?" Mr..
Roberts said that since his conviction
upon charge of O misdemeanor in 1889,
there had been two amnesties from
| Presidents of the United States. An
act to enable the people of Utah to en-
ter the Union as State had been pass
ed and constitution adopted by the
State which fixed the requirements anu
qualifications of it's citizsns eligible 10
public Office.
"The gentleman from Ohio," he ex-
claimed, "has 10 court record againsI
me since the proclamation of amnesty
! by the President of the United States"
Regarding the charge that ever since
his conviction he had continued to be
and still was polygamist, Mr.. Roberts
said that If he had been guilty of law
breaking why had he not been punish
ed therefor2 1t was not because of
repugnaDce against executing law, for
its administration was 10 the hands OF
uon-M ormons, by those who were not
10 sympathy with the form OF religion
followed by the member from Utah
These charges, he said, had originated
about fifteen months ago. but not until
after his business bad called him east
had an effort been made to institute
proceedings against him. ut did not suit
those in charge Of this agitation," said
be, "to vindicate the law quietly aud
in the usual way. The coterie which
has entered into this conspiracy to
force this question to the front now are
doing go through their fear tina. if the
case should 60 to committee in the
regular way they would fail of securing
the two.thirds vote necessary to secure
the expulsion of the member from
Utah." Against this proceeding Mr.
Roberts invoked the protection which
the constitution gave,
From soorn and bitter contempt, the
spectators were swayed to and fro as
this strange, strong man challenged his
accusers and flung taunts even into the
face of the President of the United
States. He was applauded, time ami
again. In the galleries long, grin
array OF bitter women sat to see that
this man should be cast out, but when
the daughter of the accused broke down
in tears the grim faces relaxed for a
time and there was much swishing OF
handkerchiefs.
General Grosvenor repudiated Mr..
Roberts assertion that the President
had knowingly appointed to Office men
guilty of the Same crime charged against
him and which he did not deny. When
the vote was taken on the resolution it
passed S02 to 31-the negative being
cast by tweDty-nlne democrats, one 70
publican and one silver party man.
The Speaker appointed nine mem
bers as the special committee to act
under the resolution.
TIE death of the late Representative
Settle, of Kentucky, was then announc
ed, and at 6:25, as a further mark OF
respect, the House adjourned until
Thursday.
Volcanic Eruptions