The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-01
THE PROGRAMME
VERY DOUBTFUL
Congress Will Adjourn Through
Respect for Mr.. Hobart.
ROBERTS CASE IN DOUBT
The Present Plan Now is to Allow the
Member From Utah to Take
His Seat and Then File
Protest.

1t is very doubtful as to what will be the
is an invariable rule for the house and sem
ate to notify the president that they are
in session and ready to transact the public
business. But owing to the death of the
vice-president the official etiquette may
stop here. 1t is even possible that the
house and senate will not even do this
much. Some one will call the attention of
the house and senate to the death of the
vice-president and adjournment will follow
immediately.
This is mark of respect which can be
emphasized in this way. But whether the
two bodies of congress serve the usual no.
tice on the president or not. it is almost
certain that the presidents message will
not be read the first day, thing almost
unknown in the history of congress. A
president would be considered to be lack
ing In respect for congress, certainly most
remiss, if he did not have his message
ready by the time congress met. But things
are all at skies and sevens this session.
The house and senate might appoint COM
mittees to inform the president of their
presence in Washington, for officially he
does not know they have assembled until
notified to that effect. They will hardly
wait for the usual report of their commit
tees before they adjourn. This would be
the regular and most natural procedure,
but here comes in another possible inter-
ruption.
About Mr.. Roberts
Some impetuous and virtuous member,
~
sanctity of the house invaded by the poly
gamist member from Utah. may spring up
and object to his being sworn in. This may
precfpitate fight which may last some time
and possibly prevent the house from organ
izing that day or having knowledge Off
cially that it is itself in Washington. In
which case it can not possibly inform the
president of its existence. Indeed until it
is organized it is not here.
The present plan now is to allow Mr..
Roberts to take his seat and then discuss
the ACCESSIBILITY of letting him retain 1T af-
forwards. This programme seems to have
been settled upon by the leaders on both
sides of the house as the best way out of
the trouble 1t begins to look, too, as
though Utah's polygamist member would
be permitted to retain his seat throughout
the congress. But of this later.
The speaker has the sole prerogative of
recognizing members on the floor. 1t is pos
sible that the speaker will refuse to recog
nize a member who arises to object to Mr.
Roberts taking his seat. There Is no Jaw
nor rule by which member can force
recognition If the speaker overlooks him.
But one member may clamor so loudly that
the question may become one of great EN-
barrassment.
If those who sympathize with him think
him unjustly treated they, too, may demand
recognition and then, presto, the fight is
on and until it is settled the members cam
not be sworn in and consequently there is
no house.
The word is being passed around among
the members of both parties that 1t is we'll
not to make Digestion to the seating of Mr..
Roberts on the first day. Tho republicans
and the democrats, too, seem Inclined to
accept the verdict of the leaders, but there
are always in each congress some men who
do not follow leaders and many more who
would be willing to violate their wishes to
catch the public ear on some bazaar aues-
ton such as this zone Of Roberts promises
to be.
objection Cannot Stand
The best authorities on parliamentary law
say it is impossible for such an objection to
stand, but the question once raised may
preeipitate a fight which will last over the
first day
These authorities all seem to agree that If
such a precedent were established chaos
Nigh reign at the beginning of every con-
gress. If the objection of one or more
members could prevent man from taking
his seat there is no reason to think that
whole delegations might not be temporarily
held up. Alabama, Arkansas and the states
which come first on the roll call could, by
concerted action, 1t is argued, object to
New York members and members of other
delegations further down the list from TAX
ing their seats and leave only small ele-
ment to organize the house. This is a re-
ductio ad absurdum, but it is the argument
In use Just now to show that Roberts must
be allowed to take his seat. After that the
case will go to the elections committee
where it's legal points will be argued by Ex-
Secretary Carlisle, Senator Edmunds and
others.
While it is being freely predicted that Mr..
there seem to be very few members who
are willing to say that they will vote to
Dust him. In fact, the majority of men,
beers with whom l have talked confess prl-
vately that they Will vote for him, but are
not willing to 5e quoted. They assert that
they could not vote against him without
violating their oaths of office. If there be
any legal technical.ty or constitutional
bubble on which they can legitimately
hang his expulsion he will be expelled, but
at the present time the best informed mem
bers say that such nail in the case has
been found on which to hang such an ac-
ton.
The question will hardly become a party
one. The leaders of both parties in the
house are inclined to get together and
share the onus of the burden. Both sides
are afraid to make a party matter out of
1t. The republicans do not feel like taking
the responsibility of overriding the consti-
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