The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-05
WAS NO DEFENSE.
Roberts Was Left to His Fate by the
Democratic Members.
TOM REEDS BITING SARCASM.
Representative Ball Has introduced Sew.
eral Important Bills.
FOR BUFFALO BAYOU SHIP CHANNEL
He Asks S4,O0O,0O0; Also Wants Survey
Of the Brazos Made.
DR. BUFFALO BAYOU SHIP CHANNEL
HAS A MEASURE AIMED AT THE TRUSTS
Attacks ON schIcy
ana Dewey May C,,use Him to he
Troubled by Congress.
Especial to The Post.)

Washington, December mot less than
10000 people hosleged the house galleries
today for the purpose of seeing Repre-
sentative. elect Roberts OF Utah aud learn
ing his fate at the hands of the popular
branch OF the F'ifty-sixth congress. Thou
sands were disappointed, not only because
they could not obtain admission, but be-
cause the Roberts case was postponed un.
til tomorrow after the reading of the
presidents message.
| There was nothing In the assemblaga OF
! this congress that differed materially from
any other new congress. The procedure
was exactly the same. The interest CEN
| tered entirely in the Roberts case. There
never has been such an exhibition OF pub
| JIG sentiment anent the question of polyg-
amy as has been aroused in this case. aud
never before was there such demonstra-
| ton OF the influence of woman on the poli-
cies OF tho country. 1t is believed now
| that Roberts Ia doomed, and nothing but
sentiment Will be responsible for 1t. He
/ has every right of the law aud the consti'
4 tuition on his side. His credentials are alb
solutely straight and his right 10 the pos
session OF his seat is unquestioned. He Is
simply assaulted because 1t is charged that
he is polygamist and has lived polSs-
amoas life since the passage of the anti.
polygamy law. which is still improved. II
is conceded that the house has no right to
try man for a crime committed in a
State, and yet this house is proceeding TO
do that very thing.
The republican programme WAS carried
OUT today. but the democratic programme.
rs outlined in these dispatches last night
was not. When the name OF Roberts was
called today and he started down the aisle
TO the speakers desk 20 take tho oath OF
office. Mr.. Taylor of Ohio arose and OBJ
jected to his being sworn upon the ground
that he was a violator Of the law and was,
under the law In his case, not a citizen OF
the United States.
Mr. McRae OF Arkansas. q democratic
member, did the same thing, and 80 both
parties we're even on that score. There
was no protest from the democratic SIDE
and No appeal from the decision of tho
chair when the speaker requested Mr. Rob
erts to stand aside for the present,
Mr. Roberts said he would do so. but
did not in doing so desire to waive any OF
his rights.
lilo was assured by the speaker that he
would not forfeit any right. He then took
his seat without further words.
Mr. Taylor then offered his resolution
setting forth what he had formerly charged
be not seated until his case could be In
vestigated by a special committee. This
resolution. by agreement. was laid over
until after the reading OF the presidents
message tomorrow before being consid- |
eTod.
AS Roberts stood grasping the two end |
desks in front OF the speakers stand, |
while Taylor OF Ohio and McRae of Ar |
kansas were lambasting him for his nj. I
legged practices contrary TO the teachings |
OF Christian religion. he was study. He
did not appear defiant, but simply as
meeting his aeeusers boldly and withou,
the slightest fear.
The meanest fling At Roberts however.
ed. Every members name had been called
and each had seat. Mr.. Roberts alone,
with superb courage. came forward and an
nouneed that he had not been provided
with a seat. The speaker then said that
unless there was objection the geptleman
might take any vacant seat in the house.
Roberts then proceeded to wha. is called
the Cherokee Strip" the mos, undesirable
seats in the house, AID took an unoeeupied
desk. The iueidsn, was clear cut per-
Torrance in brutality towards Roberts,
aud one of courage on his part, and cree
ated Tor him a good deal of sympathy.
The Post correspondent had talk with
Roberts after adjournment and he did not
appear one bit rufhed in temper nor al
all dismayed by the apparent determine
ton Of the majority TO unseat him lie
showed no resentment that there was not
a single voice raised on the democratic
side in his behalf, lie appeared to APP
preaiaIe the fact that the democratic mem
hsFship was for the nenee under the con-
troll OF pe,tleoat government and under
the influence OF a sentiment In their re-
spsetiys districts that lhsy eou;d rot at
ford To combat. Tie said be had nothing 10
say until he had seen and consulted with
senator Rawlins OF Utah. who has charge
as his eAse.
TIA Republicans think they have the