Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-02
Datlp 4 cmnebec 3opr;,al.
ROBERTS OUT OF IT.
Slim Chance of His Being
Seated in the House.
Republicans Decide on Thorough In
vestigation of the Matter.
The Presto ents Message Will Not Go 10
Congress Until tuesday.

Washington, Dec. lat confer
cnce Of about . prominent house Re
publicans held at the Capitol. tonight
it was decided that the eligibility Of
Representatives. Roberts of Utah
to occupy a seat in the House of Rep
rcsentatives should be investigated and
determined and that pending IN" a.
cision he should not be permitted to
take the oath Of office.
This decision was arrived at by those
present without a dissenting voice
Representative Taylor. who will havt,
charge of the matter in the House,
explained after the conference had
adjourned that this proceeding does not
involve pre-judgment of the case. but.
irrespective Of party, will afford the
members an opportunity Ia vote after
thorough investigation and complete
presentation Of the case for their con
Sideration.
Mr.. Taylor has made study of the
allegations and presidents ANA pre-
scented them al length to his colleagues.
He offered plan Of procedure which
was agreed To after a general eXChanS"
of view. The procedure is to be as fol
lows:
W men MI. llDDtllS appears dl JHt Ddl
Of the House to take the oath objec-
ton is to be made upon the ground
that he is ineligible. He will then step
aside. and. after the other members
are sworn in. the member making the
ohjection-who will probably be Mr.
Taylor-will recite the allegations and
offer n resolution for their inVestiga-
lion by special committee This will
IL,
in the first instance upon the question
Of postponinS the administration Of the
oath until after the allegations have
been investigated
The resolutions have been formulated
yet but they will include the investiga-
ton of whether Mr.. Roberts alleged
conviction Of violation Of the EdmundS
act in 1889 renders him ineligible by The
terms of that act: whether the fact
that he is an avoyed p0lygamist rem
ders him inaligible: and whether the
state of Utah in electing him has not
violated the compact by which she Oh
tanned statehood.
Mr.. Taylor says the precedent for OBJ
jecting to the swearing in of 4 MEM
Der duly elected and bearing proper
credentials are numerous ana in point
Among others are the Well-knoWn case
of Proctor Knott. Boyd Winchcste,
and John NJ. Rice Of Kentucky, who
were cleo, d to Congress shortly after
the war and also We're charged with in
eligibility on the ground Of diSloyalty.
All these presidents We're cited at the
conference. tonight. These presidents
lead to the conclusion that objection
can be properly made to the swearing
in of a member where there is appar-
emily well grounded reasons for belieV-
ing him Ineligible. The resolutions
will provide for the appointment of Il
special committee Of either seven or
nine to be appointed by the Speaker.
Representative Powers of Vermont.
presided at the conference, tonight.
Those present were Messrs. Henderson
of Iowa: Grosvenor. Shattuck. South
ard. Kerr and Taylor of Ohio; Powers
of Vermont; Mcpherson Of Iowa: Dai-
zell Of Pennsylvania; Payne AMI Shcf-
man Of New York. Hill Of Connecticut.
Thomas of Iowa: Alexander and Ray
of New York: Curtis of Kansas.
Warner Of Illinois, Lands of Indiana;
Cannon Of Illinois: Morris Of Mime
sofa: Steele Of Indiana; Long Of Kan
Sas.
The Roberts case Is not 10 come up
for consideration at the Republican
caucus. tomorrow night. The l;epub-
lican leaders do not desire 70 max" me
question in any sense = party ISSUE