Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-12-07
Utah Congressman Asked to Stand Aside
Pending an Investigation.
Taylor OF Ohio Made the Objection Charging Roberts with
Poygamy and Ineligibity
Mr. McRae
duced Referring Matter OF
by the speaker-Actiou Resolution Until
After Presidents is

Washington, Dec, 6.-When the clerk
called the name of Representative Rob-
erts to appear at the bar of the house
to take the oath of office, Representa-.
tive Taylor of Ohio objected to his
being sworn in
Representative McRae of Arkansas
seconded the request
Mr.. Taylor then offered a resolution
authorizing the speaker to appoint
committee of nine members to investi-
gate the charges preferred against Mr..
Roberts, and to report the same to the
house. The resolution was laid aside
until after the presidents message is
read.
Seldom. if ever, have such enormous
crowds swarmed about the house to
witness the opening scenes of the ses'
sion as besieged the doors yesterday.
The assembling of the new congress
always attracts a big attendance, and
the proceedings in the case of Repre-
sentative-elect Roberts, which prom
ised to be exciting and probably SEN
sational, furnished an additional at
traction.
Shortly before j. o'clock Mr.. Roberts,
in silk hat and black frocl< suit, made
his way through the crowd to the
mem ber's private lobby. Here he met
Mr.. Richardson. and the two held
short conference as to whether Mr..
Roberts would seek to address the
house.
A buzz of comment followed the gen
tleman from Utah wherever he went,
but there was no disrespectful demon
stration.
Very carly in the day a monster
petition said to consist of seven million
names, protesting against the seating
| of Mr.. Roberts. was brought into the
| hall. 1t had been collected by New
| York newspaper. 1t consisted of TWEEN
| ty-eight rolls of names each about two
| feet in diameter, encased in the Ameri-
can flag. These rolls were stacked up
| in the area in front of the clerk desk
and were viewed with great curiosity.
Later, Major Mcdowell, clerk of the
house, ordered all except two of the
rolls taken out into the lobby.
| Senator Rawlins of Utah came over
| from the senate wing and held an
earnest conference with Mr.. Roberts.
/ Mr.. Lentz of Ohio took part in the con-
| ference After it was over the report
was circulated that Mr.. Roberts would
not present himself to be sworn in, BIT t
this was Immediately denied. Mr..
Roberts himself said he had not decided
what he would do, but that he might
desire to be heard when his case came
up. He took seat to the right of the
main aisle, and soon became the cyno-
sure of all eyes. His daughter sat in
the members gallery.
Mr.. Tayler of Ohio, who represents
President McKinley's district, who was
to conduct the case against Mr.. Rob-
erts, was comforting with his colleagues
on the Republican side, As the minute
hand of the clock opposite the speak
ers rostrum overlook the hour hand at
noon, the gavel of the clerk of the last
house, Major Mcdowell, descended with
| bang. The indeseriba BILE buzz ceased.
| The members at once arose and the
spectators in the galleries bowed their
heads. In this stiffness, the voice of
the blind chaplain, Rev. Henry Couden
of Michigan, was elevated, and his
prayer made the occasion reverent.
After the invocation the reading
| clerk began calling the roll and min
ute later the buzz had recommended,
making noisy background for the
staccato voice of the clerk as he called
out the names.
Mr.. Roberts sat listening in tently for
his name, and when it was called he
responded Here in loud voice. But
he looked nervous and ill-at-ease.
There were no demonstrations dur,
ing the roll call. When it was con,
clnded, Clerk Mcdowell announced
| that 35a members had answered to
their names, a quorum.
The next thing in order an.
| nounced the clerk, lis the election of a
speaker"
Henderson (Rep.) of Iowa, Richard.
son Dem of Tennessee, Bell (Pop.) OF
Colorado, and Newlands Silver Rep.
/ ----