The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-02-08
MORRIS HONoRED.


That Page Morris of the special
committee to investigate thecharges
against Roberts, the mormon Po-
,lygamist, and by reason of which
Roberts was excluded from con-
gress, should be selected to make
the argument On behalf of that
committee, would indicate that he
is held in high regard by his col
leagues, who have confidence in
his legal ability, as we'll as his
skill in debate. A Washington de-
spatch says of of the OCCASION:
1t developed during the closing
hours of the Roberts debate that the
polygamist was endeavoring to work
a bunko game on the house. If either
the Lacy amendment to expel or the re-.
port of the Littlefield Dearmon mi
nority to allow him to take the oath
of Office first and then proceed i'm
mediately to expel, Roberts would not
have presented himself at the bar Of
the house to have taken the oath of
office. T.. = *. -+-..-
He Inadvertently told q member
what he intended to do, and this was
his program: If the Lacey amend
ment had carried, Roberts would haye
raised the point that never having
been sworn in he could not be ex-
,>allod uo6 tho oor;tx, ro,, o,.t t,, q /.
low him to take the oath prevailed he
would have taken the first train for
Utah and could draw his salary under
the same conditions that he has drawn
it since the 4th day of March. 1t very
frequently happens that members do
not appear to take the oath of Office
until long after the house has been in
session.
Only last week Mr.. Catchings Of
Mississippi, appeared at the bar and
was sworn in. Therefore. had either
of the contentions-for which vast
store of legal knowledge was unbur-
dened on the house by those who were
in semi-sympathy with Roberts been
adopted, Roberts would have had the
house of representative in a corner.
Judge Page Norris brought this fact
out IN his speech, and is entitled to
great deal of credit for it.
Judge Morris, in his speech, dras-
tically referred to Llttlefield's allusion
to the report of the majority, which he
saw fit to designate constitutional
sewing circle"
'"There were no such illusions or
weak attempts at humor attempted
during the long and laborious hearing
before the committee" said Page
Morris.
Judge Norris then preceded to
show that on the proposition of Civ
ing Mr.. Roberts his passports and
sending him back to the people of
Utah the committee agreed. The only
9 uestion at issue was as which was
the better way, to say at the outset
that a man who is disqualified to sit
40 a tACIuOOI ouOulu CACluOCu W
allow him to take his oath and then
expel him.
Judge Morris made a strong argu-
nent in maintenance of his position
hat the house should exclude. If |
Roberts was fit subject to be ex-
oelled by two-thirds vote, which was
shown in the hearing be-
ore the committe, then he is certainly |
. fit subject to be excluded before
land. What sense is there in petit
Jogging with case Of this kind? On
he issue made and presented, all are
agreed that Roberts cannot occupy |
eat in congress. Therefore. argued |
Norris, how absurd it is to undertake |
% mollify or palliate the crime of
Roberts by taking him into the house
Ind then kicking him out. 1t would |
n the end be better for Roberts for |
he house to exclude him at the outset |
han it would be to encourage the law
breaking elements which he repre.