The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-02-01
HIS SEAT DECLARED VACANT.
Il. H. Roberts, Norman Representative
Elect. Excluded from Congress.


Washington. Jan 25.-Brigham
H. Roberts, the polygamous Nor
mon sent to congress from Utah, was
to-day denied the right 10 seat i'll
the house.
By n vote OF PCS ayes and 30 hayes
the house adopted the report OF the
majority OF the special committee
which tried the case and then iii set
terms and precise language declared
that no polvgamists need apply for
admission in the law making body OF
the nation.
After a day filed with oratory and
marked by sensational speeches on
both sides Representative DeArmond
of Missouri. closed the argument for
the adoption OF the minority report
in "A speech fully as masterful as that
OF his colleague. Mr.. Littletield OF
Maine. and easily the superior OF any
made in support OF the majority re-
port Mr. DeArmond and Mr.. Lit
tlefield. two trained lawyers OF ac-
knowledged ability, had reached the
conclusion that Roberts was po-
lvgamist that he was not entitled
to sit as a member of the house-but
that the constitution. and law and
the facts in this case provide only
one safe and legal plan OF action. to
let the Utah man be sworn III and
then promptly exPel him.
For three days they forcefully con
tended for the adoption OF their re-
port ar Il substitute for the majority
which denied Roberts the right to
take the oath. While they lost by
decisive vote, they made splendid
presentation of their views and car
ried with them on the first roll call
81 members of the house. Against
the adoption OF the majority report
only 80 members went on record
and not a man of this number would
under any circumstances have voted
to let Roberts remain or become a
member of the house, except long
enough for the roll to be called on
the motion to expel him.
The result is what was confidently |
expected. Brigham FL. Roberts, the
convicted polygamist, and rejected |
representative of his state, is going |
T.. l. l.
in the supreme court i'll the endeavor
to force congress to accept him. That |
recourse is not open He has no le-
gal standing He has had his day
and is ousted finally.
The exact language of the resolu-
ton was as follows:
That under the facts and circum-
stances of the case. Brigham H. Rob
erts, representative-elect from the
state of Utah, ought not to have
seat in the house of representatives.
and that the seat to which he was
elected is hereby declared vacant"
LAcEy's RESOLUTION RULED OUT.
The amendment to expel Mr.. Rob
.rts without seating him, offered by
Mr.. Lacey, was ruled out on a point
Of order, and the house only voted
Ipon the..resolution OF the majority
md minority of the committee The (
atter-to seat and then expel Mr..
defeated, 81 to 244
In analysis OF this vote shows that
l10 republicans, ~ democrats and
populists voted against it. and Il
democrats, 6 republicans for it. The !
resolution-to exclude Mr.
Roberts and declare the seat vacant
were adopted 27S to 30. The af
vote was divided as follows:
los, democrats 90, and
,opulists 4. The negative vote:
democrats ~. silver republicans >
md populists |,
Tabler's Buckeye Pile Ointment is II
10 panacea. but is recommended for