Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-05
seth CONGRESS.
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less he has the cooperation of the
members Of the House.
THE generous Partially and kind
ness that have been shown to me by
the entire membership here, encourage
me to believe that such imperfections
as may have may be modified by the
considerable and supporting disposition
OF those constituting this great body.
Il am ready to take the oath of Of
fice.'
In accordance with the time honored
custom the oldest member of the
House in point Of service. Mr.. Harmer
of Pennsylvania. administered the oath
TO the Speaker. The Speaker then an
nounccd that the oath would be admin
istered to members by states.
AS the names of the members We're
called they appeared at the bar in
groups and We're sworn in by the
Speaker.
The moment for which all present
were anxiously waiting came when the
state of Utah and Mr.. Roberts name
was called. instantly a hush fell upon
the assembly. Taylor Of Ohio, asked
and received recognition He objected
to Mr.. Roberts taking his scat.
II do 50, Mr.. Speaker" he continued
ION my own responsibility as y member
Of the House AMI because specific, serious
and apparently welI-gruunded charges Of
inelgibility are made against him. \
transcript Of thc proceedings Of court III
Utah evidences the fact that the claim
ant was in 1889 convicted or that he
pleaded guilty Ia the crime Of unlawful
rehabilitation. AfHdavits ana other papers
in my possession indicat" that ever since
then he has been pcrSiSt"ntiY guilty of
the same crime and that ever since thea
he has been and is now Il polygamist. II
this transcript and thcs" affdavits and
paperS tell the truth, the mcmhcr-clcCt
from Utah is in my Judgment inelieihl,
to be member of this House uf Repre-
ScntativcS. both because OF the statutory
disqualification Of the Edmunds law and
Tor higher and SrIVer ana quite as sound
reasons.
have Just said that | have in my pos
session "A certified copy Of the entry I'M
der which the claimant to this seat was
naturalized, and that eminent counsel as
sert that il this be the record in the case
TINS claimant Is not = citizen az the
United States. | offer ana express no
opinion upon that proposition.
MIR. Speaker, if ii were possible ia en-
phasize the gravity Of these charges and
the responsibility that is at this moment
imposed upon This House. We will Tin I
that emphasis in The memorials 4 small
for in this hall. but all Of which now
present to the House from over 1.m".m"
American men and women protesting
against the entrance Of this representa-
uYc-clect from Itah.
At the conclusion Of Taylnrs remarks.
McRae. Dem, Ark. briefly expressed his
concurrence in the protest # Taylor Il
the charges hanging over the head Of tin.
he said his being sworn in would be an
assault upon every American home. II
true. Nj Roberts was guilty of a Viold-
ton Of the laws of the United States and
Of Utah and the charges should be inVcS-
tigated. If they We're proven true. ne
said. In conclusion. Their should not be
vote in the House in favor of allowing
Meantime Roberts had advanced to the
head OF the aisle and stood there irreso-
II note the object on. sail the Speaker,
addressing him. the gentleman Will step
aside.
u do 80, replied Roberts, with the
understanding that by my action ! waive
none of my rights
None Of the gentleman's rights viii be
lost" said the Speaker. and Roberts
thereupon retired to his seat.
The remaining members Were then
sworn in, after which Taylor Immediately
offered his resolution to refer the r case o.
Roberts to a special committee. j ne res
olution was as follows:
Whereas II is charged that Brigham
IL. Roberts. a representative to the 5ttn
Congress from the stat" "t tan. IS m
Sentativcs, and.
whereas. Such charge il made
through IA member of tn" House on his
responsibility such m"mher. and ON
the basis as he asserts. of public records,
affidayits and papers cv!d"ncinG such m
eligibility.
"Resolved, That tho question ."f the
prima facie right IL brigham II. Roberts
to be sworn in as representative from
the state uf Utah i'll the 5Grh Congress. as
well as his final right I" a scat herein
as such representative. u" referred - 4
special committee Of min" members "l ~"
HOUSE tn br appointed by the speaker,
and until such committee shall report
upon and decide such question ana right.
the said Brigham H. Roberts shall not be
sworn in or permitted /" occupy sea-
in this House, and said committee snail
have power to send for persons aud pa
pers and examin" witnesses on "atn ~
relation IL thu SUBJECT matter ~ Jus
resolution.
An agreement wa thrn reached by
which the consideration Of the resolution
should be POSTPONED until tomorrow. alter
the rcadin.: ct the President S message.
The officers IT IN" IInus" selected ~
the Republican caucus. saturday. "crr
then elected. Alexander M"bpwrlI ~
Pennsylvania clerk; Ilcury tass"n. n
Wisconsin. s"rgcant-ir arms, NJ. Gl"nu
of New York. dnork""rrr. J. q. MrElruH
Of ohio. postmaster; 'it,r when IN
the President anh the Senate Of III" "r-
Ganzation of tho House.
A committee If three consisting of can
non. Rep. lit. Payne. Rep, n ". ami
Richardson. Dem. Tom. were appointed
to Join similar committee from the sen
ate to wait On the ir' sidrnt ami inform
him that Congress was in session ana
rc11y To receive any communication ho
might hay" I" MAKE.
short but lively debate ~ Offering = rcs"-
luton for the adoption "f the rules 4,
the last Consress. Thrt wgr" tmI r ruI,,,
operation had proved their value.
baley, Dem TeN pr ;,, ia,, lI' n,.,..
tb,,