The Portland daily press., 1899-12-06

Washington. December Safer an in
tsresting debate Of three hours the House
to-day BY . vote Of 800 to SO adoptso the
resolution offered by Mr.. Taylor Of Ohio,
yesterday for the appointment Of special
committee to investigate the charges
against Brigham II. Roberts the Mormon
reprssentative-slect from Utah. Previous
ly the House had rejected . substitute
resolution offered by MIR. 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 Dem ocratio
strength. Only 81 Democrats voted for
1t. OF the thirty who then voted against
the Taylor resolution all were Democrats
except two. Mr.. Loud. California Re-
publican, aud Mr.. Newlands . Silverits
from Nevada. By the terms Of the fesoiu-
tion, Mr.. Roberts b 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 IL denied seat In the hall. whether
sAis WAA 10 iueSfpsoeoo w oohy hiAh ou-
mission within the chamber pending the
disposition of his case isyst to be decided.
The reading of the Preside nt's message
was completely overshadowsd by the
dramatic proceedings which resulted In
the action Of the House today.
The galleries were thronged with spec
tators. mostly women, WIN sat patiently
thropch An. eh~oa hanna that r,rocsd sd tha
debate and then waited three hours more
until Il was concluded. The most re-
markabls feature of the debate was the
fact that Mr.. Robertss presentation Of
his own side OF the oase which lasted al
most an hour, became so absorbed that
he won the SYMPATHY Of many Of thoss In
the galleries and was several times show
he realized that the House WAS over
wheimingly against him and at times he
spoke fieroely, and dsfantly.
Mr.. Taylor conducted the case upon his
side. Mr.. Richardson ohampioned his
resolution. During the debate Mr..
Giosvsnor, Republican Of Ohio, rose to
Indignantly repel an insinuAtion BY Mr..
Roberts that the President hau knowing.
ly appointed men guilty of polygamy to
federal offices in Utah.
Washington, December 5-The galleries
Of the House today were almost as
crowded as on yesterday, the debate on
the Roberts's case heing the attraction.
The reading OF the Presidsnt's message
was completely overshadowed by the uni
versal interest In the disposition Of the
case of the Mormon representative from
Utah. Tue fact that thsee fourths of the
spectators In the galleries were women
was particularly noticeable and was .
tangible manifestation Of the interest of
the fair sex In the result.
MIR. Roberts entered the hail about 11.S0
and moved around the throng on the floor
rather aimiessly. Just before the House
convened he took the seat he selected yes
tsrday on the extreme right Of the Demo-
cratic side In what Is known as the
"Chsrokee Strip"
1t developed that Mr.. Robsrts's name
Is not on the official roll call Of the House
60 that In case of q vote or other action
by the House he would be q participant.
This was In accordance with all precs-
dents, as the roll is made up of those
mem bers who have been sworn In and
have thus oonsummated their rights to
mem bership. Representative Richardson.
the Democratic floor leader, said that no
exception could be taken tn this proceed
ure.
No arrangements as to the time to be
made available for debate upon the reso-
luton had been reached before the House
assembled. At 10 o'clock Speaker Hsndsr-
son called the mem bers to order. All
arose in their places, Mr.. Roberts in
oluded. and stood with bowed heads
while the chaplain delivered his inyocs-
tion. After the reading Of the journal
had been concluded Mr.. Cannon, from
the oommittss appointed yesterday to