Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-02
The Case Of Representatives Elect
Roberts, of Utah
will BE INVESTIGATES
At [" Conference of Honnbi,oan nen,-
bors of tho House IL wa. Decided
TO Investigate, Tho EiislbIIi,y or,ho
Poiyron,lst to a seHt-Tho pIan Of
Procedure Outlined.
tBy Telegraph to virginian.Pilot.)

w asuinB ION, ~. e., Dec. lat @ con-
terence of about twenty-five prominent
House Republicans, held at the Capitol
| Tonight, 1t was decided that the eligi-
biiity OF Representative-e Roberts,
Oh Utah. to occupy seat in the House
OF Representatives should be inyesti-
gated and determined. and that pend
ing the decision he should not be per-
mltted to take the oath Of office.
DECISION UNANIMOUS.
This decision was arrived MT NV those
present without dissenting voice.
Representative Taylor OF Ohio, who
VIII have charge OF the matter in the
House. explained after the conference
,oo adjourned, that this proceeding
does not Involve n prejudgment of the
case, but, Irrespective Of party, Will
AFFORD the members an opportunity to
vote after thorough investigation and
complete presentation Of tho case for
their consideration.
PLAN OF PROCEDURE.
Mr.. Taylor had made study Of the
allegations ana presidents anu present.
cd them at length to his colleagues, He
oifered plan of procedure which was
agreed to after generaI exchange OF
views The procedure Is to be rs fol-
lows.
When Mr.. Roberts appears at the bar
OF the House to take the oath objec-
non IS 10 be made upon the ground that
he Is ineligible. He will then step aside.
and after the other members are sworn
IN, tho member making the objection
who probably will be Mr. Taylor-will
recite the allegations and offer reso.
luton for their investigation by spe-
cial committee. This will give the
House an opportunity to vote In the
irst instance upon the question of post
poning the administration OF tho oath
until after the allegations have been
Investigated. The resolutions have not
been formulated yet, but they will In
clude the investigation OF the charge
that Mr. Roberts alleged conviction OF
violation OF the Edmunds act in 1890
renders him Ineligible by the terms of
that act. whether the fact that he IS
an avowed polygamist renders him In
| eligible. and whether the State of Utah
IN electing him has not violated the
compact by which she obtained State
| hood.
NUMEROUS PREcEDENTs.
Mr.. Taylor says the precedents for
Directing to the swearing in of a men,
Der. duly elected and bearing proper
credentials, are numerous and in point.
Among others. are the we'll known
| cases of Proctor Knott. Boyd Win
| chester and John r. Rice, of Ken
| lucky. who were elected to Congress
| shortly after the war; and who were
charged with nelglbility on the
ground of disloyalty All these prece-
dents were cited at the conference to-
| night. These precendcnts lead to the
| conclusion that objection can be
properly made TO the swearing In OF n
member where there nrc apparently
| well-grounded reasons for believing
| him to be ineligible.
The resolutions will provide for the
appointment OF n special clmmittee. OF
either seven or nine, to be named by
the Speaker.
Representative Powers. Of Vermont.
| presided at the conference tonight
Those present were Messrs. Henderson.
| Iowa; Grosyenor, Shattuc South
ard, Kern. and Taylor. Ohio: Powers.
Vermont: Mcpherson, Iowa. Dalzeli.
Pennsylvania; Payne and Sherman,
New York: Fill, Connecticut; Thomas,
Iowa; Alexander and Ray. New York
Curtis, Kansas; Warner, Illinois: Lam
dis, Indiana; Cannon, Illinois: Morris.
Minnesota; Steele. Indiana; Long,
| Kansas.
| ISSUE NON-PARTISAN.
The Roberts case is not TO come up
for consideration at the Republican
lican leaders do not desire to make
the question in any sense party
issue.