The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-10
RIGHT WAY OF PROCEDURE
ADMIT ROBERTS AND THEN BE
GIN AN INVESTIGAr ALTON.
.lF NECESSARY HE COULD BE EXPELLED
Some Facts About Our Consular Service, Which
Seems Sadly in Need Of 0verhauIing.
Pritchard and Butler in One Boat
Pulling together.

u'ItiiS iOSelliei'
Washington, d. c., Dee. ESPECIALLY
The Roberts case will be investigated
publicly. 1T was at first thought ad-
yisable to try it in executive session,
but the committe has decided that the
people ought to have the facts from
day to day. OF course the ultimate YER
diet must be that of the voting masses.
From legal standpoint, the subject Is
Il serious one 1t is Il dangerous prece-
dent to establish But, il is said the in
yestigation will develop the fact that
Roberts has FIVE wives instead OF threel
He now occupies u seat ON the floor,
daughter, who acts as his secretary.
daughter, who acts as hi secretary.
Mr. Kitchin says, as regards his
view:
MIR. Small and myself both voted
suppose we did so from tire same rea-
against the Tayler resolution, and l
sons. We thought it dangerous aud
unauthorized precedent. or course we
despise polygamy as much IS any one,
and our vote is in no wise an approval
of it.
The question was, to state it sim
Ply whether we should presume and
epelare Roberts disqualified 10y ienXine
him membership berore investigation, el
should refer the whole matter to the
proper committee for investigation Gt
the facts and law before passing judg
ment upon him. He was the duly elect
ed representative of The people of the
sovereign State of Utah, possessing the
constitutional qualifications, with duiy
authenticated credentials. Thus cloth
ed as We're all other members, he de-
manded the right 10 be sworn as a
member In my judgment, the oniy
rightful power the other representatives
had was to admit him, and then refer
his case To the proper committee to as
certain the facts upon which expulsion
would depend. This was the course de-
manded by the great majority of the
petitions against him. This was the
course demanded by the Richardson re-
solution, for which l voted. With great
respect for the gentlemen who took, and
honestly and conscientiously took, a diff
fcrent view of the matter, the denial
of membership TO him before trial or
Investigation seemed to me in the nature
of mob violence, which under ciamoS
often leads good mer 10 do that which
in cooler moments they regreI.
The fact that we are against poly
gamy did not justify an unusual ana TO
my mind an unconstitutional method Of
procedure against him. Ii such pro
eedure is to be approved, the time
may come when other representatives
for other causes niay be denied adlnis-
sion. In great crisis a majority OF
one on assembling day may thus stand
twenty-five members aside and then
having twenty-six majority with ease
proceed to unseat them one by one, and
in the meantime have Il large working
majority for all their purposes, good
or bad, just or oppressive. You can
easily see how representative govern
ment may thus become a farce. \
fair trial by proper body before iudg-
ment against individuals or States
should be Il principle dear to every just
man. On this principle we disapprove
of lynch law, and on it are founded all
just laws.
NO, | am not afraid of being hurt
by my vote, though my position may be
at first misunderstood. But the people
/ represent know me and | think they
are very apt to know the facts before
pect me TO act conscientiously upon my
best Judgment, and in accordance with
my oath, which | took as Il member,
upon all questions as | understand
them"
Mr.. Adelbert Hay, son of the Secre-
tary of State, the newly appointed
consul at Pretoria, dined at the British
Embassy last night, Our consular serv-
ice needs an overhauling badly, and it
also needs uniformity. Now orr Am
bassadors, Ministers and Consuls wear
only the dress suit, a costume reie-
gated to the servant and dining room
walters of families who cannot or DO
not afford a livery. In the early days
the United States TO foreign courts
wore Il distinctive uniform. This con-
sisted Of a suit of blue broadcloth with
collar and cuffs embroidered in gold
oak leaves, brass buttons. knee
breeches, silk stockings, patent leather
shoes, with buckles, Il short sword and
a chapeau de bras, ornamented with
gold cord and tassel When William l..
Marcy was Secretary of State, he con-
cluded that this uniform was un-demo~
cratic. and abolished it. The Earl Of
Clarendon objected officially, and re-
CURED that the American Minister,
when he appeared in the presence Of the
Queen. should retain the knee breeches
and short sword in spite Of his swal-
low-tailed coat.
know one Consul who is considered