The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-17
ROBERTS LOSES.
Committee will Recommend His
Expulsion.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE special
committee of the house of representa-
tives to investigate the case of Brig
ham H Roberts of Utah to-day re-
ported a final conclusion. On the po-
lygamous status of Mr.. Roberts the
committee was unanimous and agreed
upon a formal statement of facts. On
the question of procedure to be adopt
ed the committee was divided.
The majority consisting of all the
members except Littlefeld of Maine
and De Almond of Missouri, favored
exclusion at the outset. Messrs Little
field and De Almond will make mi
nority report favorable to seating Rob-
erts on his prina facie rights and then
expelling him.
The statement of facts found by the
committee is as follows:
we find that B. H. Roberts was
elected as a representative to the Fifty
sixth congress from the state of Utah,
and was at the date of his election
above the age of 25 years; that he had
been for more than seven years nat
uralized citizen of the United States
and was an inhabitant of the state of
Utah.
I'VE further find that about 1873 he
married Louisa Smith, his first and
since lived as such, and who since their
marriage has borne him six children.
About 1885 he married as his plural
wife, Celia DibbIe, with whom he has
ever since lived as such and who, since
such marriage, has borne him six chill
dren of which the last were twins, born
August II. 1897.
That some years after his said mar
riage to Celia Dibble he contracted an
other plural marriage with Margaret
G. Shipp with whom he has ever since
lived in the habit and repute of mar
riage.
Your committee is unable to fix the
exact date of this marriage. It does
not appear that he held her out as his
wife before January 1. 1897 or that be-
fore that date she held him out as her
husband, or that before that date they
were reputed to be husband and wife.
THAT these facts are generally known
in Utah, publicly charged against him
during his campaign for election and
were not denied by him.
THAT the testimony bearing on these
facts was taken in the presence of Mr..
Roberts and that he fully cross -examin-
ed the witnesses. but declined to place
himself on the witness stand"
The eliminating session of the COM
mittee followed many prolonged eXecu-
tive sessions which left no doubt as to
the attitude of the several members
with the exception of Mr.. NIiers of IN
diana, who had been out of the city,
He returned today and it was determin-
ed TO DrlnS the matter 10 a Qlfect issue
Accordingly when the committee met
Mr.. Mcpherson of Iowa. offered a res
olution for the exclusion of Roberts
Mr.. De Almond Immediately proposed
a substitute recognizing the constitu-
tional rights of Roberts to take his seat
on his credentials and providing for his
expulsion.
There was no discussion beyond in
formal remarks and a vote was first
taken on Mr. De Almonds substitute,
Mr.. Littlefeld joining him in the af-
firmative and the others voting in Oppo-
sitiOn. The vote was then taken on Mr..
McPhersOn's s motion to exclude, result
ing as follows:
Yeas-Taylor, (Ohio), Frear, Morris
and Mcpherson, Republicans; Lanham
and Miers. Democrats.
Nays-Littlefield, Republican, De Ar
mond, Democrat, Chairman Taylor was
authorized to prepare the majority re-
port. It will be ready in a few days and
the prospects are that the subject will
be brought before the house early next
week.
Mr.. De Almond will submit the views
of the minority in which he viii include
an exhaustive review of the law cover
ing about 20 type written pages prepar-
ed by Mr.. Littlefield. The main point
of this is that the house cannot add to
the requirements provided by the con-
stitution for admission to the house and
that the only constitutional remedy is
to admit and then expel on finding of