Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-18
CASE or B. n. ROBERTS
Report Of Investigating Committee Ap-
pointed by HOuSaOf Representatives.
A DIVISION ON THE PROCEDURE
Majority of Committee Favor
Instant Exclusion.
MINORITY, SEATING, THEN EXpELLlNG
Associated Press Dlspatch BY Special wires.

Associated Press Dispatch by Special wires. IL
Washington, Jan. II. The special
committee Of the House of Representa-
tives to investigate the case of Brigham
II. Roberts Of Utah, today, reported u
final conclusion. On the polygamous
status of Mr.. Roberts, the committee
was unanimous, and agreed upon
formal statement of facts. On the ques-
tiun CT procedure to be adopted, the
committee was divided. The majority,
consisting of all the members except
Representatives Littlefield of Maine and
De Armond of Missouri, favored exclu-
sion at the outset. Messrs Littlefield
and De Almond will make minority
report, favorable to Seating Mr.. Roberts
on his prima facie rights and then ex
pelling him. The statement of facts
found by the committee is rs follows.
"We find that Brigham Fl. Roberts
was elected as a Representative to the
56th Congress from the State of Utah,
and was at the date of his election
above the age of % years, that he had
Eeen for more than seven years a nat
uralized citizen of the United States.
and was an inhabitant Of the State of
Utah.
"We further find that about 1878 he
married Louisa Smith, his first 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 as 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 18th. 1897.
..That some years after his said mar
riage to Celia DIbble he contracted
another plural marriage with Margaret
c. Ship, 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. 1t
does not appear that he held her out as
his wife before January, 1897, or that
before that date she held him out as
her husband, or that before that date
they were reputed to be husband and
wife. Ar
"That these facts were generally
known in Utah, publicly charged
against him during 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-exam-
ined the witnesses, but declined to place
himself on the witness stand. ,"
The eliminating session Of the COM
mittee, today, followed many pro-
longed executive sessions.
When the committee. met, Mr.. Mo
Pherson of Iowa offered resolution
for the exclusion of Mr.. Roberts.
Mr.. De Almond Immediately proposed
substitute, recognizing the consti-
tutional rights of Mr.. Roberts to tnke
his seat on his credentials, and pro-
viding for his expulsion.
There was no. discussion beyond in
formal remarks, and the vote was first
taken on Nj. DesAlmond's substitute,
Mr.. Littlefeld jeinins him In the
affirmative, and the Others voting In
opposition. The vote was then taken
on Mr.. McPberson's motion to exclude
resulting as follows:
Yeas.-Taylor, Ohio, Frear, Morris
and MCPHERSON, Republicans; Lnnham
and Meirs, Democrats.
Nays-Littlefiold, Republican; De
Almond, Democrat. IN
Chairman Taylor was authorized to
prepare the majority report. 1t will be
ready in 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. .G lLj