The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-02
~ - 9@t ~ ~ 49, -
Representatives in
Conference Vote
to Exclude.
WILL make INVESTIGATION.
Not Likely That the Nor
mon Will Keep
Seat.
WILL make INVESTIGATION.

Washington, Dec. 1.-At a conference
of about 25 prominent republicans held
at the capitol tonight, it was decided
that the eligibility of Representative
elect Roberts of Utah to occupy a seat
in the house of representatives should
be Investigated and determined, and
that pending the decision he should not
be permitted to take the oath of office.
This decision was arrived at by those
present without a dissenting vote.
Representative Taylor of Ohio, who
will have 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 to
vote after a thorough investigation and
complete presentation Of the case for
their consideration.
Mr. Taylor had been making a study
of the allegations and presented them
at length to his colleagues. He offered
a plan of procedure, which was agreed
upon, after a general exchange of
views. The proposition is as follows:
| When Mr. Roberts appears at the bar
of the House to take the oath, obtec-
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 OBJ
1ection-who probably will be Mr.. Tay-
ior-will recite the allegations and Of
fer resolution for the investigation
by special committee. This will give
the House an opportunity to vote in
the nrst instance upon the question of
postponing the investigation. The
resolutions have not been formulated
yet, but they will include the investiea-
ton of 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 avowed polygamist, renders him in
ellglble, and whether the state of Utah
in electing him has not violated the
compact by which she obtained state
hood
Mr.. Taylor says the precedent for OBJ
Jectlng to the swearing in Of a member
duly elected and bearing proper Gre
dentials are numerous and in point
among others are the case of Proctor
Knott, Boyd Winchester and John M.
Rlce of Kentucky, who were elected ia
congress shortly after the war and also
were charged with ineligibility on the
ground Of disloyalty. All these proceed
ents were cited at the conference to-
night. These presidents lead to the CON
clusion that objection can be properly
made to the swearing in of a member
where there are apparently well
grounded reasons for believing him in
eligible. The resolutions will provide
for the appointment of a special com
mittee of either seven or nine to be APP
/ pointed by the speaker.
Representative Powers of Vermont
presided at the conference tonight.
Those present We're Messrs Henderson
! of Iowa, Grosvenor, Shattuck, Kerr,
Taylor of Ohio Powers of Vermont,
Mcpherson of Iowa, Dalzell of Pennsyl-
Vania, Payne and Sherman 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,
Norris of Minnesota Steele of Indiana,
Long ot Kansas. The Roberts case is
not to come up for consideration at the
republican caucus tomorrow night The
republican leaders do not desire to make
the question in any sense a party issue.