The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-05

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| by the two other members of the COM
| mttee.
When the new speaker ascended the
| rOstrum. Mr.. Richardson, in a neat
| speech, introduced him, and in response
| to the hearty cheers, he addressed the
house as follows:
| Gentlemen of the House of represen-
| tatives: The voice of this house has
called me to grave responsibilities. For
| that call l am most profoundly CRATE
! ful and I am keenly sensible of the
weight of the responsibilities that attach
to this great office. I am encouraged,
however, by the thought that no men,
Der of this body can escape RESPONSE
bility either to his people or to his coun-
try. All of us are under bonds to do
our best.
The approval of the country: the ap-
proval of ones own conscience: the al
tainment of great results, are not Sc
cured by petty contests on narrow
fields, but must be sought and won on
broad patriotic lines of thought and
action.
TT is my duty. as it will be my aim
and pleasure, to impartially administer
| the laws adopted for our government,
| but no speaker can be successful unless
| he has the cooperation Of the members
! of this house
| THE generous partiality and kind
| ness that have been shown to me by
! the entire membership here encourages
me to believe that such imperfections
as may have will be modified by the
| cODSiderate and supporting disposition
of those constituting this great body
II am ready to take the oath of Of
| flee
| In accordance with the time-honored
custom, the oldest member Of the house
| in point of service, Mr.. Harmon OF
Pennsylvania, administered the oath to
40
nounced that the oath would be admin
! istered to the members by states. As
the names of the members were called
they appeared at the bar in groups of
about a dozen and there. with raised
hands, was sworn in by the speaker
| The moment for which all present
We're anXiously waiting came when the
state of Utah and Mr.. Roberts name
| was called Instantly a hush fell upon
| the assembly. Mr.. Taylor of Ohio was
on his feet asking for recognition. The
speaker recognized him Immediately.
Il object to the swearing Of the rep
| resentative-elec from Utah and to his
| taking his seat" began A.r. Taylor in a
clear. distinct voice.
Il do so, Mr.. Speaker, on my RESPONSE
| bility as member of this house and be-
cause specific, serious and apparently
wel-grounded charges of ineigibilty are
made against him. transcript of the
proceedings of court IN Utah evidences
the fact that he, claimant. was in 1889
convicted, that he pleaded guilty OF
the crime of unlawful cohabitation AT
iidavits and other papers in my possess
sion indicate that ever since then he has
been persistently guilty of the same
crime, and that ever since then he has
been and is now, Dolygamist. If this
transcript and these affidaVits and papers
tell the truth, the menber-elect from
Utah is, in my Judgment. ineligible to be
na,- J,+x-
both because of the statutory disaualifi-
cation of the Edmunds law and for high
er ana graVer and quite as sound reasons.
| ought also to say, in addition to what l
have just said, that I have in my possess
sion a certified copy of the entry under
which the claimant to this seat was nat
ura!zed, and that eminent counsel assert
that if this be the record in the case this
claimant is not Il citizen of the United
States. | offer and express no opinion on
that proposition.
Mr. Speaker if it were possible to en-
phasize the gravity of these charges and
the responsibility that is at this moment
imposed upon this house. We will find that
emphasis in the memorials. a small part
of which could be physically cared for in
this hail. but all of which l now present
to this house, from over seven million
American men and women protesting
against the entrance of this representa-
tive-elect from Utah.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Taylor's re-
marks, Mr. McRae, dem, Ark, brie fly
expressed his concurrence in the protest
of Mr.. Taylor. If the charges hanging
over the head of the representative
elect were true, he said. his being sworn
in would be an assault upon every
American home. If true, he said Mr.
Roberts was guilty of a violation of the
laws of the United States and of Utah
and the charges should be Investigated.
If they were proven true, he said en-
phatically in conclusion there should
not be a vote in the house in favor OF
allowing him seat in the house.
Meantime Mr.. Roberts had advanced to
the head of the aisle and stood there
irresolutely.
In view of the objection" said the
speaker, addressing him. "the gentle
man will step aside.''
Il do So replied Mr.. Roberts. with
the understanding that by my action /
waive none of my rights
None of the gentlemans rights will
be lost said the speaker, and NJ"
Roberts thereupon retired quietly to
his seat.
There was no demonstration ether
on the floor or in the galleries. The
remaining members Wo"n thea sworn |
in, after which Mr.. Taylor offered his
resolution to refer She casa Of Mr.. |
Roberts to special committee. Tic
resolution was as follows:
Whereas, 1t is charged that Brig
ham Fl. Roberts, a epresentative-elec |
to the Fifty-sixth congress from the |
state of Utah, is ineligible to a seat |
in the house of representatives; and.
Whereas, Such a ch>"se is made |
through a member Of r.>e house on |
his responsibility as such member and |
on the basis, as he asserts, of public |
records atfidavitS and papers evidence |
ing such inelieibility,
Resolved. That the question of the |
prima facie right of Brigham H Rob- |
erts to be sworn in as a representative |
be referred to a special committee of |
nine members of the house. to be ap- |
pointed by the speaker. and until such |
committee shall report upon and the |
house decide such question and right !
the said Brigham H. Roberts shall not
be sworn in OF be permitted to occupy
q seat in this house: and said commit |
tee shall have power to send for per- |
sons and papers and examine witnesses |