The Portland daily press., 1899-12-06
Utah Man Defends Himself On
Floor of House.
Declared Polysamists Were Appointed To
Federal Offices.

walt on the President, reported that the
President would communicate In writ
ing. Immediately thereafter Major
Prudsn, the Presidsnt's executive clerk,
ANNOUNCED THE MESSAGE
and 1t was at onoe laid before the House.
The member listened attsntivsly to the
reading.
The reading Of the message consumed
two hours and half, and at tho oonclu-
sion the Republicans gave 1t hearty
round Of applause.
Mr.. Panys. Republican of New York,
the floor leader Of the minority. immedi-
atsly moved that the message be referred
10 the compittee Of the whole on the
state Of the union and ordered printed.
Mr.. Grover. Republican, expressed q
desire 10 dictate the message, but this was
declared OFT % ercer. The Speaker than
laid befc-e she hsrss Mr.. Layior's reso-
lution 10 refer the Reberts's case to a
committee.
Mr.. Taylor immsdiatsly took the floor.
Il was arranged that there should be
three hours debate. one half on each side.
one half hour to be allowed Mr.. Roberts
and to come out Of the time Of the mi
nor,ty. This arrangement having been
made, Mr.. Richardson, the Democratic
leader, gave notice Of substitute he
would offer % follows:
Whereas, Brigham H. Roberts from the
State Of Utah, has presented oertifoats
Of election In due and proper form as a
representative from said state, therefore,
be IL
Resolved, That without expressing any
opinion ~ to the right or propriety Of his
retaining his seat In advance Of any
proper investigation, thereof, the said
Brigham II. Roberts 10 entitled to be
his prima facis case.
Resolved, Further, that when sworn in
his credentials and all papers In relation
to his right to retain his seat be referred
o the committee on judiciary with the
instructions to report thereon at the earli-
est practicable moment.
Mr.. Taylor then opened his speech in
favor Of the adoption Of his resolution.
He would not urge Its adoption he said,
were he not prompted by high sense Of
duty. The Constitution was inconsistent,
he continued, II 1t was oontended that
the limitations imposed were not to be
added to. The power OF Congress to halt
the claimant at the door, he insisted, was
clear. The ineligibility created by con-
viction for crime was a power inherent
In government irrespective OF the oonsti-
tuition. He oited several cases to shew
that as punishment for crime, the legis-
lature had ample authority to disqualify
q man from bolding Office. When
TAYLOR BEGAN 10 SPEAK
Mr.. Roberts left the seat he had been
occupying and took seat near the aisle
where he could hear with greater eass
Throughout MIR. Taylor's remarks he sat
facing his aoouser except when he turned
to his desk to take notes of the points to
which he desired to reply.
Continuing, MIR. Taylor read from q
deoision Of the supreme court defining
poly gamy which stated that irrespective
Of whether man had contracted plural
marriage after the passage of the Ed
mund's act and irrespective of whether
he had since oohabited with q plural wife,
he was guilty of polygamy II he still
maintained the relation Of husband to
more than one wife. Referring again to
the two proclamations Of amnesty he ar
gued that the claimant was In no better
position than he would have been had n o
such proclamation issued. But higher
than the civil law was law Of civilizs-
zion which demanded that one go tainted
should be excluded. He oited the case of
Whittemors who had been guilty OF sell
ing cadstships and who upon bis appear
ance at the bar Of the House was rejected
as unfit to sit In the House. The power
and the right were inherent said MI.
Taylor. II was only question OF pro-
Dristy, of wisdom. and Of precedent
In all his Investigation and study of
precedsnts, Mr. Taylor said he had failed
to
FIND A SINGLE CASE
whore the House had hesitatsd to assort