The suburban citizen., 1900-01-20
TO EXCLUDE ROBERTS.
Final Decision Of HOnse Investigating
Communicative Were Ia
Opposition.

Communicative Were Ia
Opposition.
Washington, Especial The special COM
mite OF the house OF Representatives TO
investigate the casu Of Brigham II. Roberts,
OF 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 DO adopted the
committee was divided.
The majority, consisting of all tho mem
bers except Ltttlelloid Of Maine and Dear
mond OF Missouri favored exclusion at the
outset. Messrs. Littlefeld and DeArmond
Will make a minority report favorable to
seating Roberts on his prma fHcis rights
aud then expelling him.
The statement OF facts "a found by tho
committee is as follows.
1--WE find that B. H. Roberts was elected
as Representative to the Fifty-slxth Con-
gress from the State Of Utah. Rnd was at tho
date OF his tlection above the age OF 20
years; that he had boen for more than seven
years naturaIized citizen Of the United
States and was an inhabitant of the state Of
Utah.
"We further ind that about 1878 he mar
rled Louisa Smith, his frat and lawful wife,
with whom he has ever since lived as such,
and who, since their marriage has borne
him six children.
That about 1885 he married IA his plural
wife, Celia Dibble with whom he has ever
since lived as such, and vino, since such
marriage, has borne him six children, OF
whom the last were twins born August
IL, 1897.
THAT some years aftor his said marriage
to Celia Dibble he contracted another plural
marriage with Margaret @. Shipp, with
whom he has ever since lived in the habit
md reputo Of marriage Your committee f.
unable to fix the exact date OF this marriage.
IL does not appenr that no held her out as,
bis wife before January 1887, or that before
that date she held him out as her husband,
or that before that dats 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 we're not
denied by him.
That the testimony bearing on these
facts was taken in the presence OF Mr..
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 1t was determined
to bring the matter to a direct issue. Ac-
cordingly when the committee met Mr.. Me-
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 vas no discussion beyond informal
remarks, and the vote was first taken on
MIR. DeArmond's substitute, Mr.. Littefed
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; Lauham and
Mers Democrats.
Nays-Littlelleld, Republican; DeArmond,
Democrat
Chairman Tayler was authorized to pre-
pare the majority report. 1t will be ready
in few days, and the prospects are that tho
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
field. The main point Of this is that the
House cannot add to the requirements pro-
vided by the Constitution for admission to
the House, and that the only constitutional
remedy is to admit and then eKpel on the
finding OF facts.