Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-08
ADDRESS BY ROBERTS
The Congressman Elect ircm Utah
Appeals to the eople Of
America
PRESENTS His Side OF tile Question OF
His Eligibility to
Congress.
Denies the Power of the Committee
Appointed to Investigate
His Actions.

Appointed to Investigate
His Actions
Washington, Dec. S-Brlgham II.
Roberts, of Utah, who was not allowed
10 be sworn in as Il representative in
congress of that state. has issued an
address to the American people. 1t
contains much that was said by Mr..
Roberts on the floor OF the house and
by Mr.. Richardson, Who opposed the
resolution of Mr.. Tayler. of Ohio After
reviewing the facts ana proceedings re-
suiting in the appointment of the COM
aiittee 70 try him as 70 his alleged
ealis a hostile committed, pointing out
that It's. membership, is MADE up entire
Is Of those Who voted to adopt the
method Of procedure and not one who
Nots,i against it limiting Il place upon
The ro,nrmitee. lie the creation OF such
4 tribunal Tor such a purpose be al
lowed, hs says there Is no reason Why
a committee should not be made up of
members OF one political faith-for the
majority may do8as it pieases about
That. Continuing, Mr. Roberts says:
ask the American people II sop
aud think what that ilsas mean 10 tiils3
country in times of hisn poiitcal *
element and party silife and passion.
First--A tormidaDle minority IN the
Rouse may be reduced either u ii Very
HIS snlfieant minority vven blotteti
5eSt 81 sxis tence.
Second The repre- 4atatlon TO which.
q stale is entitled Oh the floor OF the
house may be denied Il II as IN the
Jtasl cslse-f for any length OF time this
committee may elect 70 deny IL such
approximation. Supp9se ;hat IN this
eass the committee saatl Sue prepnr to
Iyrosesa with Reasonable expedition to
Consider ne questions involved. but
wlaas is thsfe to hinder il delaying It's
ssttsasl untier one pre,eSt u another as
org as pleases2
gan pFolong It's Investigations f0,
two years us wen rs q month, if il so
egeets. aad meantime deny to a stare
sItrsssrli alton. ana may defeat alto
tilen tHe impressed iil Of a people Of
STATE a. 70 their choleaof a reprssen-
tstlite.
If the present republican aausa can
lion There S no REASON Why Il eou q not
ilsiiy Niiginia hers. veu though She
HIS tssn ipre sentati1sS, Tor ten repre-
sufnssisaHay from the bar Of the houss
agsd one state as wss as another, II q
bala llsi5er.ty IN the house chooses To
ss.Sf Il So Md II tn present rtspubli-
can house ean8&o SO NTH Utah#or Viz
sitasa there Is no reason Why the mex,
leiaoeratie hotss could not ploeeed n a
like manner With representatives from
roiaallean States, undssr this new and
ta,l1sseeeaented rule q. procedure.
Iil8Hd This n,aw precedent also
STRIKES dosyn tae constitutional giiaran-
ice q i right 70 one accused qf ct.iiie 70
sneeiiy and papAc itgal BY an lnlpar
TIA! gify pi uhe state wherein. the ERNIE
sila iiaFe been committed,
The IrGposs ten Is e tty me bafore
he Committee of the hoase. e send for
persons and papers ana witnesses 10
srta.n my saiit 81 Innocence of All
s1legcl niisdggnea,lSii' reported to have
been committed IN Utah. 1t vii! b.
Gsaless 10 deny tliis Statement by say
ENG That III the charge against nae
witch resulted il the appoIntment OF
ktilis extraordinary committee Of in
s.es CATION, L IS said that d transcript
u the proceedings of a court IN Utah
esaenees the fact that the member
ifnoin t6taa Pleaded guilty 10 INSIDE
aieanor in tfe year lSS3-ten years
agu and when Utah was 4 territory.
whatever political disabilities were
iafeated by that event Were remover by
4 she sovereign slate of Utah, when, in
1 lie aQ4plSon OF her state constitution
ID 1885, sii,5 ny her sovereign power, de-
lared what Should be the qualifica-
i tions Of her electorate, and possess
i them ail. And this side OF the enabling
asst and the admission of Utah, | an
at the defiance II my enemies 10 pro
duee any court record of conviction foi
Filse 9r s any time since the nsae-
4 reaner Of Ess and the house has NJ
right q proceed on any other evilene.
taan sttcn court records.
deny the existence of the Lawful
H power Of tae house TO prevent me from
4 bs1itg sworn in on the Presentation o.
4 upon which others are admitted K
II ~ 49, i1i4i ~
= deny the right of the house to re,
solve itseif into the justice OF the peac,
court u Try me for misderneanor
alleged to have been committed, in or
der to find grounds for my expulsion o
I. exclusion.
Il deny its right to confer any sucl
! po@sr upon its committee.
III mere guilty Of the misdemeano
charged, even ilaSrantly so--hele in til,
capital could not even be arreste,
4 for the otfense, so slight is II consid
8 cred under the law. The constitute,
lgives the members of congress inlmun
ity from arrest for misdemeanors, ex
cept for breach of the peace, and ye
for an alleged misdemeanor, for Whicl
l could not be arrested While in attend
ance on the house or while going TO o
from i, | am deprived of the right t
take the oath of office; my final RICH
TO my seat is in jeopardy: the people Q
one of the sovereign states are denie
representation SO long as it shall sui
the purpose of the committee to have
so. and the expressed will of the peopl
of a state is in danger of being de
& feated.
But why this appeal to the America