The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-01-25
TO EXCLUDE ROBERTS.
Final Decision of House Investigating
Committee-Two Were In
Opposition.

Opposition.
Washington, Especial. )--The special COM
mite OF the House OF Representatives to
investigate the case OF Brigham H. Roberts,
oil Utah, reached a final conclusion.
On the polygamous status OF Mr.. Roberts
the committee was unanimous and agreed
upon formal statement OF facts. On the
question OF procedure to be adopted the
committee was divided
The majority, consisting OF all the mem
bers except Lttleaeld of Maine and Dear
mond OF Missouri, favored exclusion ut the
outset. Messrs. Littlefleld and DeArmond
will make a minority report favorable to
seating Roberts on his prima facie rights
aud then expelling him.
The statement OF facts as found by the
committee is rs follows:
I'VE lind that b. H. Roberts was elected
as a Representative to the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress from the State Of Utah, and was at tho
date OF his election above tho age of rs
years; that he bad been Tor more than seven
years naturalized citizen of the United
States and was an lnhaUitant OF the State OF
Utah.
1--WE further find that about 1878 he mar
ried Louisa Smith, his first and lawful wife,
with whom he has ever since lived as such,
him six child en-.
That about 1885 he married, rs his plural
wife, Celia Dibble, with whom he has ever
since lived as such, and who, since such
marriage, has borne him six children OF
whom the last were twins born August
IL, 1897.
That somo years after his said marriage
to Celia Dibble he contracted another plural
marriage with Margaret G. Shipp with
whom he has ever since lived in the habit
and ropute OF marriage. Your committee Is
unable to fix the exact date of this marriage.
1t does not appear that he held her out as
his wife before January, 1897 or that before
that date she held him out rs her husband,
or that before that date they were reputed
to be husband and wife.
"That these facts were generally known
in Utah, publicly charged against him dur
ing his campaign for election and were not
denied by him.
That the testimony bearing on these
facts was taken in the presence OF MIR.
Roberts and that he fully cross-examined
the witnesses, but declined to place himself
on the witness stand"
The eliminating session OF tho committee
followed many prolonged executive sessions,
which left no doubt as to the attitude of the
several members, with the exception OF Mr..
Miers, OF Indiana. who has been out OF the
city. He returned, and it was determined
to bring the matter to n direct issue. Ac-
cordingly, when the committee met Mr.. Nc
Pherson, Of Iowa, offered resolution for the
exclusion OF Roberts.
Mr.. DeArmond Immediately proposed
substitute, recognizing the constitutional
rights OF Roberts to take his seat on his Gre
dentials, and providing for his expulsion.
There was no discussion beyond informal
remarks, and the vote was first taken on
Mr.. DeArmond's substitute. Mr. Littlefeld
joining him In the affirmative and the others
voting in opposition.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. Nc
Pherson's motion to exclude, resulting as
follows:
Yeas--Tayler (Ohio). Frear. Morris and
Mcpherson, Republicans; Lanham and
Miers, Democrats.
Nays-Littleneld, Republican; DeArmond,
Democrat.
Chairman Tayler was authorized to pre-
pare the majority report. 1t will be ready
in a few days. and the prospects are that the
subject will be brought before the House
early next week.
Mr.. DeArmond will submit the views of
the minority He will include an exhaustive
review OF the law, covering about seventy
typewriter pages, prepared by Mr.. Little
Held. The main point of this is that the
House cannot add to tho requirements pro-
vided by the Constitution for admission to
the House, and that the only constitutional
remedy Is to ndmit and then expel on the
finding Of facts.