The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-06

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-After an In
,eresting debate of three hours, the
house to-day. by vote of 3O2 to 80.
adopted the resolution offered by Mr..
Tayror, OF Ohio, yesterday, for the ap-
poiptment OF special committee to
investigate the charges against Brig
ham H. Roberts, the Mormon represen-
tatlve.elect from Utah. Previously the
house had rejected a substitute resOlu-
tlon offered by Mr.. Richardson, the
leader Of the minority, to allow Mr..
Roberts to be sworn in and to send the
whole case to the judiciary committee.
This substitute resolution, however, by
no means commanded the full Demo-
cratic strength. Only fifty-seven mem
bers voted for It. OF the thirty who
then voted against the Taylor resolu-
tlon, all were. Democrats except two.
Mr.. Loud, a California Republican, and
Mr.. Newlands, silverIte, from Nevadn.
BY the terms Of the resolution Mr..
Roberts is now not only excluded from
all participation in the proceedings Of
the house until the committee reports
and the house passes upon his case, but
he is denied a seat in the hall. Whether
this will be interpreted to deny him ad-
mission within the chamber pending the
disposition Of his case is yet to be de-
cided.
The reading of the Presidents mes
sage consumed two and one-half hours
and at the conclusion the Republicans
gave II a hearty round of applause.
Mr.. Payne. (Rep9, Of New York, the
floor leAder OF the majority, immediate
" moved that the message be referred
to the committee of the whole on the
state Of the union and ordered printed.
MIR. Grow, (Rep.y. of Pennsylvania,
expressed desire to debate the mes
sage, but this was declared out of or
der
The speaker then laid before the
house Mr.. TayIor's resolution to refer
the Roberts case In accordance with the
agreement of yesterday.
Mr.. Taylor took the floor. 1t was ar
ranged that there should be three hours
debate, ons-half on each side. one-half
hour to be allowed Mr.. Roberts and to
come out Of the time OF the minority
This arrangement having been made
Mr.. Richardson, the Democratic leader
gave notice Of substitute he would
offer, resolution to allow Roberts to
be sworn IN and send the whole case TO
the judiciary committee.
Mr.. Taylor then opened his speech in
favor OF the adoption Of his resolution.
He would not urge its adoption, he said,
we're he not prompted by high sense
OF duty. The constitution was incon-
sIstent he continued, II 1t was contend
ed that the limitations It imposed were
not TO be added to. The power Of Con-
gress to halt the claimant at the door,
he insisted, was clear.
The iRelIgibHlty created by conviction
for crime was power inherent In gov
etnment Irrespective OF the constltu-
tlon. He cited several cases to show
that as punishment for crime the leg
is,a,ure had ample authority to dis
qualify a man from holding office,
When Mr. Taylor began 10 speak Mr..
Roberts left the seat ne had been occu-
py!ng and took seat near the main
aisle where he could hear with greater
ease. Throughout Mr.. Taylors re-
marks he sat facing his accuser except
when he turned to his desk to take
notes Of The points to which he desired
TO reply
Continuing. Mr.. Taylor read from u
decision of the supreme court defining
polyEamy which stated that irrespec-
tive Of whether man had contracted
plural marriage after the passage Of
The Edmunds act and Irrespective Of
whether he had since cohnbitated with
a plural wife. he was guilty OF poly
gamy II he st!ll maintained the rela-
itOus Of husband to more than one wife.
Referring again 10 the two proclnma-
tons Of amnesty, he argued that the
claimant wns In no better position than
he would have been had no such proc
lamRtion been issued. But higher than
the civil law was law Of civilization,
which demanded that one so tainted
should be excluded
In all hiB investigation and study Of
Precedents, Mr.. Taylor said, he had fall
ed to find a single case whore the house
had hcsitatcd to assert upon proper oC-
casion, Its right to halt a member ut the
bar when his qualifications for n seat
were questioned.
we are told" said Mr, Taylor, in
conclusion. his voice ringing gu, clearly
that We are about to create an unhap-
by precedent. Why, Mr.. Speaker we
are doing this In the open gaze OF the
whole world, not In a cloIgtered court.
We are the servants Of the people em-
powered to do tho right ns we gee It.
IN" public eyo is upon as, The public
conscience quickcns us. N that pres
encc We can do no wrong II wc do hut
obey IT,"
Mr.. Tnylors concluding words We're