The morning news., 1899-12-04
CONGRESS WILL MEET TO-DAY.
ROBERTS CASE WILL COME BE-
FORE THE HOUSE.


Utah Congressnan4fs3ec VIII First
Re InVestigated-When That Fea-
trrc is over the House VIII Ad-
iourn. as VIII the Senate, Out OF
HeSDeet 10 the Memory of Vice
President HObart-Caucus ON Tues
day Night.
washington, Dec S.-The opening week
Of the session in the House promises to
ta crowded with stirring events.
There is always a good deal of glamour
IN connection with the assembling of a
new Congress, which is a social as well
as political event.
The galleries, are always crowded, and
there is intense interest in the election of
the soeaker, the swearing in of members
at the bar of the House, the reading of
the Presidents message, the biennial seat
drawing, the introduction of bills and res
olutlons into the legislative hopper, and
the general clearing of decks for action
later on.
But as the committees are not appointed
until just before the holiday recess. no
actual business is transacted actually until
after the recess.
This year it will be different. AT the
very threshold of the session will come
the contest over the admission of Repre-
sentative-elect Roberts of Utah, and later
in the week the House will plunge into
an important and possibly. a protracted
debate upon the financial bill, which was
prepared by the Republican leaders last
spring at Atlantic City.
The Roberts Case.
The Roberts case has attracted the at
tenuou Of the whole country. The Re-
publican leaders have adopted a plan Of
procedure which is designed to prevent
4Ir. Rogerts from taking the oath of office
until after the charges in connection with
his alleged polygamous practices have
been Investigated by special committee.
Mr. Taylor of Ohio, will make the OBJ
lection 10 the administration of the oath
to Mr. Roberts and will offer a resolution
to refer his case to a special committee.
There is considerable scattered opposi-
ton TO this method of procedure on the
ground that the refusal of The House to
permit a representative-elect bearing pro-
per credentials to be sworn in upon un-
proven charges would create a bad pre-
cedent and might result in chaos at some
future time when political feeling ran
high But there are several precedents
for this course in the case of members
charged with disloyalty after the war and
these will be used in support of the pro-
cedure.
Every member of the House has been
bombarded with petitions in the Roberts
case and there will be undoubtedly a
large majority, without regard TO party
lines, in support of the plan outlined by
the Republican leaders.
Vice Presidents Death.
The announcement of Vice President Ho-
bart's death will be made probably imme-
diately after the Roberts case is disposed
of and the House will adjourn out of re-
spect to his memory. The drawing OF
seats and the reading of the Presidents
message will occupy Tuesday.
Tuesday night the Republicans will eau
Gus on the financial bill. 1t is the inten-
ton of the Republican leaders to make
this caucus measure and proceed to pass
II before the holiday recess. The caucus
Will decide, if the present intention is fol-
lowed not to wait for appointment of the
Banking and Currency Committee, but to
bring The bill into the House forthwith
probably under a special order from the
committee on Rules. The debate may be,
gin on Wednesday. While the time limit
mas not been determined, some think three
or four days may suffice.