Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-05
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERS.
The Case of Roberts the Cause Of Greatest
Interest,

THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 5.-The galleries OF
the house today were almost as crowded
as yesterday, the debate on the Roberts
case being the attraction. The reading
of the presidents message, usually the
great attraction, was completely over
Swallowed by the universal interest in
the disposition of the case of the Nor
mon representative from Utah, Three
fourths of the spectators were women.
just before the house convened Rob
erts took the seat he selected yesterday.
No arrangements as to the time to be
made available for a debate upon Tay-
lor's resolution had been reached before
the house assembled. At 10 o'clock
Speaker Henderson called the house to
order. The members listened attentive
ly to the reading Of the presidents mes
age.
Washington, Dec. Sit is probable
the debate on the financial bill in the
house will not commence until next
week. A Republican caucus tonight
will consider the bill as framed by the
caucus committee. No apparent oppo-
sition has developed to it.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Representative
Tawney of Minnesota, today introduced
a resolution for the creation of u COM
mittee of seventeen members to be known
as a COMMITTEE on insular affairs to have
jurisdiction over ''affairs concerning the
"insular territory acquired or occupied
under the treaty with Spain of Dec. 10,
1898. including the island OF Tutuila,
Samoa" The resolution also provided
that the committee shall be privileged.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Roberts's name
I was not on the official roll call of the
house, so that in case of a vote or other
action by the house he would not be a
participant. This was in accord with
precedents.
Representative Corliss of Michigan
introduced a bill for a Pacific cable to
be built by the government to Hawaii,
the Philippines, Japan and China, at a
limit of cost of So, 900, 900, of which $780,
900 is to be Immediately available. The
route and general control is placed I'M
der a Pacific cable commission, includ-
ing the postmaster general n the
chief signal officer of the army.
ii lloptl 10 CdSC NC INV uP iiio
| afternoon, an hour being allowed each
! side for debate, and Roberts a half hour
for a personal defense.
The reading of the message consumed
| two and one-half hours. AT the conclu-
sion the Republicans gave it a hearty
round of applause.
The speaker then laid before the house
Representative Taylor's resolution to
refer the Roberts cas- in accordance
with an agreement yesterday. A reso-
luton was offered by Representative
Richardson providing that Roberts be
sworn in pending an investigation to be
/ made by the committee IN judiciary.
Representative Taylor commended,
first, that Roberts conviction of viola
lions of the Edmunds law in 1889 rem
dered him ineligible by the eighth sec
ton of that act; second, if since guilty
Of polygamy, he is still ineligible under
that act; third, if a polygamist within
the meaning of the decision Of the SUI
preme court, he is ineligible, ~independ-
emit of that statute; fourth, that the
compact between Utah and the United
States justifies the house in refusing
him admission. He urged that it would
be better for the house to exclude Rob-
erts than to expel him. All the authori-
ties, he said, We're against the right of
the house to eXpel a member for acts
done prior to his election, no matter
how vile they might be.
THE SENATE.
At the conclusion of the reading of
the presidents message Senator Thur
t formally announced the death OF
Senator Hayward, and submitted reso-
l%utions, which We're adopted. At 2:40 p.
m. the senate adjourned.