Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-26
THE ROBERTS CASE
Sessions of the Committee During
Recess Not Probable.
NfI-P0LYGAMY AGITATION
Resolutions Providing for Consti-
tutionaI Amendments.
ONE WILL LIKELY PASS

! Chairman Tayler of the Roberts investi-
| eating committee said today it is not likely
! that sessions of the committee will be held
| during the recess of Congress. One of the
Witnesses who might have appeared is de-
| tanned in Utah by sickness in his family,
| and there is nothing for the committee TO
| do at present.
| 1t is the opinion of every one about Con-
| gress who has followed the Roberts case
\ and who knows the sentiment Of the House
| that the committee will act adversely to
Mr.. Roberts and that the House will sus-
| tain the action by an overwhelming vote.
| II is but a question of time. therefore,
! when Mr.. Roberts case will be closed
| incident and he will disappear from public
| view.
Anti-PoIysamy Agitation.
| But the anti-polygamy agitation will not
| be over. however. Mr.. Roberts effort to
| obtain a seat in Congress have had the eff
| feet of drawing public attention to Utah
and the poiygamous practices of some of
| the citizens of that state. When Mr.. Rob
| erts defantly declared the immunity which
| the Constitution gives in certain cases he
| only pointed the way for the removal of
| the barrier.
| Five joint resolutions have already bfen
| introduced in the House proposing amend
rnents to the Constitution of the United
States, aimed at polygamy. 1t is said to be
reasonably certain that favorable action
] will be taken at this session upon some
| kind of a measure along this line. Or
course it is understood that action by Con-
gress is but preliminary, and ratification
by the states is necessary to complete the
act
MIR. Capron's Amendment.
Mr. Capron's resolution disqualifies SEN
ators and representatives who are polyga-
mists and also provides an amendment, as
| follows:
Article XVI--Sectiou 1. The marriage
| relation, by contract or in fact, between
| one person of either sex and more than one
| person of the other sex shall be deemed
| pOlygamy. Neither polygamy nor any po-
| lygamous association or cohabitation be-
| tween the sexes shall exist or be lawful in
| any place within the jurisdiction Of the
| United States or of any state.
Sec. . The United States shall not, nor
| shah any state, make enforce any law
| which shall allow polygamy or any polyga-
| nous association or cohabitation between
| the sexes. but the United States and every
state shall prohibit the same by law within
their respective Jurisdictions
Sec. j. The judicial power of the United
States shall extend to the prosecution of
the crimes of pOlygamy and of polyga-
nous association or cohabitation between
| the sexes under this article; and Congress
shall have power to declare by law the
punishment therefor.
| Sec. 4. Nothing in the Constitution or in
this article shall be construed to deny to
any state the exclusive power, subject to
the provisions of this article, to make and
enforce all laws concerning marriage and
divorce within its jurisdiction. or to vest
in the United States any power respecting
the same within any state.
MIR. shafrOth's Proposition.
My. Shafroths proposed amendment pro-
| yides follows:
Section L Neither polygamy nor polyge-
| nous cohabitatton shall exist within The
United States or any place subject to its
jurisdiction.
Sec .. Polygamy or polygamOus cohabi-
| tation whether practiced within the bounds
| of a state a territory of the United
States. shall he treated as crime against
| the peace and dignity of this republic.
| Sec. j. No person shall be senator or
| representative in Congress, elector, or
| President, or Vice President. or hold any
| other office of honor or eInolument. whether
| civil or military, under the United States.
| or under any state or territory thereof, or
| be permitted TO vote at any election for any
/ OF said officers in either state or territory
| who shall be found guilty of polygamy or
! polygamous cohabitation; but Congress
| may, by a vote Of two-thirds of each house.
! remove such disability In any specific case
| Sec. l. The Congress shall have power
| TO enforce the provisions of this article by
\ appropriate legislation"
| Messrs. BromwcII and Grout.
/ Mr.. BromweITs proposed amendment
| would provide:
| 'Polygamy IS hereby declared to be an
t offense against the United States and for
| ever prohibited within them or any place
| subject to their jurisdiction, and no person
| engaged in the practice thereof shall hold
| any office of nonor trust or profit under tho
| United states or any state.
| Section =. Congress shall have power to
| provide for the punishment of said ofTense
| and TO otherwise enforce this article by APP
! proDTiate legislation
| Mr.. CIRCUITS proposed amendment is al
| most Identical with that of Mr.. Shafroth
! MIR. Showaiter's Amendment.
| Mr. Showalter's proposed amendment
| would provide:
| That neither polygamy nor poiygamous
| cohabitaton shall exist within the United
| States or any place subject to its jurisdic-
| ton.
| That poly and polygamOus cohabi-
/ tation, whether practiced within the bounds
| o. state or territory of the United States
| shall be treated as a crime against the
/ peace and dignity of this republic.
| That no person shall be senator or rep
| resentative in Congress or eligible to Pres
| ident or Vice President, or hold any other
| Office of honor or emolumert, whether civil
| military, under the United States or
| under any state or territory thereof, or be
! permitted to vote at any election for any
/ such officers In either state or territory
| who shall be found guilty of polygamy or
! pClygamous cohabitation: but Congress
may. by vote of two-thirds of each house
| remove such disability in any specific case.
! That Congress shall have power to en-
| force the provisions of this article by appro-
| pirate legislation"
The resolutions proposing these amend
| ments have been referred to the commI tt 9
| on the Judiciary. and an effort will be made
! TO have them taken up for consideration
! carly in the session.
| GDs Long Sentence.