The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-12-07
TO BE CHALLENGED.
Congressman Roberts. OF Utah, viii
Not Be Sworn In.
THE PLAN OF PROCEEDING.
he Will Be Objected to on the Ground
OF Not Being Eligible, and Asked to
Stand Aside, Pending Investigation.

washington, ID. C.. Special.-At
conference Of about 25 promiII ent
House Republicans held at the capitol
Friday night, it was decided that the
eligibility of Represcntatiye-electR Rob.
erts, CT Ut"n. to occupy a seat in TIE
House OF representatives, should be
investigated, and determined taa.
pending the decision he should not be
permitted to take the oath of office.
This decision was arrived at by those
present without dissenting voice
Representative Taylor, Of Ohio, who
Will have charge of the matter In the
Hcuse, explained, efter the cor erence
had adjourned, that this rr' eedine
does not involve pre-judgr ,nt .1f the
case, but irrespective of pa y will
afford the members an opportunity te
vote after thorough Investigation
and complete presentation OF the case
for their consideration Mr.. Taylo,
had study of the allegations and
presented them at length to his col.
leagues. He offered plan Of procedure
which was agreed to after a general
exchange Of views. The procedure is
to be as follows: When Mr.. Roberts
appears at the bar of the House tc
take the oath, objection is to be made
upon the ground that he is ineligible
He will then step aside and after the
other members are sworn in, the mem.
Der making the objectionable prob
ably will be Mr.. Taylor-wiQl recite the
allegation and offer a resolution fol
their investigation by a special com
mittee. This will give the House al
opportunity to vote in the first instanc,
upon the question OF postponing tht
administration of the oath until tn,
allegations have been investigated. TIL.
| resolutions have not been formulated
yet, but they will include the investi
cation of the charge that Mr.. Roberts
alleged conviction of violation of tn,
Edmunds act in 1889 renders him in
eligible by the terms of that act
whether the fact that he is an avowe,
! polygamist renders him ineligible, an,
! whether the State of Utah in electin,
him has not violated the compact b.
which she obtained statehood.
/ Mr.. Taylor says the precedents TO
objecting to the swearing in of a mem
Der duly elected and bearing prope
| credentials are numerous and in point
| Among others are the we'll known case
ST Proctor Knott, Boyd Winchester an
John M. Rice, of Kentucky, who wer
elected to Congress shortly after tn
war and who were charged with ineli
gibility on the ground of disloyalty
| All these precedents were cited at tn
conference. These precedents lead t
the conclusion that objection can b
properly made to the swearing in Of
member where there are apparent
well grounded reasons for believin
him to be ineligible. The resolution
will provide for the appointment OF
special commission of either seven {
nine to be named by the Speaker. Rel
resentatiye Powers, of Vermont, PR
sided at the conference. Those preseI
were Messrs. Henderson, of Iowa
Grosvenor, Shattuc, Southland, Ker
and Taylcr. of Ohio: Powers, OF We
mont; Mcpherson, of Iowa; Dalzell,
Pennsylvania; Payne and Sherman,
New York; Hill. of Connecticut
Thomas, of Iowa; Alexander and Ra
of New York; Curtis, of Kansas; Wa
ner, of Illinois; Lands, of Illinois
Morris. of Minnesota; Steele, of Ind
ana; Long, Of Kansas. The Rober
case is not to come UP for consider
tion at the Republican caucus. tt
I Republican leaders do not desire
make the question in any sense
| party issue.