The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-12-14
Utah Roberts Case Before the
House.
NOTES OF THE OPENING DAY
Our Regular Letter From the National
Capital Contains Much Of Interest.


1t is doubtful is any opening SEES
sion of congress has been witnessed
by so large and so deeply interested
crowds as were in attendance at the
sessions on Monday and Tuesday OF
this week OF course, interest cen.
tered in the house where it was
known that the republican leaders
had decided upon program of OPP
position to Brigham II. Roberts, the
representative elect from Utah,
against whom charges of poligamy
were preferred and whose attempt to
take his seat has brought forth pro-
tests from every state in the Union.
Petitions, with names aggregating
several millions, were piled upon the
floor of the house. AS soon as the
roll-call was commenced on Monday
Mr.. Roberts took his place at the bar
to await the calling of Utah. As he
stepped forward to be sworn Mr..
Taylor, of Ohio, by previous agree
ment among the republicans, object
ed, and at the order of Speaker
Henderson Mr.. Roberts stood aside
until the entire roll had been called.
Then Mr.. Taylor presented resolu-
ton providing for the appointment
of a committee of five to investigate
| the charges against the Utah mem
| Der, and the house made the matter
special order for Tuesday, there
after adjourning out of respect to the
memory of Vice President Hobart.
On Tuesday after the reading of
the presidents message the Roberts
matter was taken up again, and in
the presence of crowd which filed
the galleries Mr. Roberts was given
the floor to speak for himself He
based his claim to the seat entirely
on his legal election and declared
with vehemence that he asked no
favor-simply demanded his right.
lie attacked the administration,
which he alleged had appointed
Mormons to federal offices in Utah,
and through his discussion maintained
complete defiance. Subsequently,
however, the Taylor resolution was
adopted by vote of 302 to 81. thus
showing that Mr.. Roberts party as
sociates are not disposed to defend
him in this particular instance.
Among those who voted against the
resolution were Mr.. Richardson, of
Tennessee, whom the party caucus
chose as democratic leader, and Mr..
Bailey, of Texas, who was the leader
on the floor year ago.
The opening of the senate session
was marked by the protest against
the seating of Senator w. A Clark
OF Montana, who, it is claimed. re-
sorted to wholesale bribery to secure
his election.
Among the new senators who took
the oath was Chauncey NJ. Depew, of
New York, perhaps the most distin-
guished among the new members.
AS time proceeds it becomes evident
That the senate may not decide to
seat Quay, of Pennsylvania, and it is
pointed out by some of the shrewdest
observers that had the willy Pennsyl-
vanian been sure of being seated he
would have been in attendance on the
opening day, instead of permitting
his friends to announce that he will
be unable TO come to Washington be-
fore the holidays. 1t is said that
the party lines have been drawn very
tightly over several democratic sen
ators who have been disposed to
vote for the seating of Quay, but
who are now awaiting the outcome of
contests against other senators be-
fore following their inclination 70
vote for the Pennsylvania, who is
exceedingly popular personally.
Those who have been disposed to
criticise President Mckinley for fail
ing to have a definite policy and for
lack of courage in stating his con
relative to the Philippine
question, will be obliged to remodel