Evening star., 1900-01-24
Mr.. Roberts Addresses the House at
Length.
APPROPRIAFES OTHERS ARGUMENTS
Insists That Utah's Pledge Has
Been Kept
MIR. LITTLEFIELD CONCLUDES


tatives. after listening attentively to the
arguments of Mr.. Tayler of Ohio and Mr..
L.ittlefield of Maine for the adoption of the
ma jority and minority reports, respectively,
of the special committee that investigated
the Roberts case, remained long after
nightfall last evening to hear the words of
the accused as he faced the House, know
ing that every hand was raised against
him.
Mr.. Roberts was adroit in the handling
OF his case, and at times dramatic. TAX
ing advantage of the issue raised by the
DIVISION IN the committee as to the method
OF ousting him, he appropriated the argu-
ment of the minority that he was consti-
tut1onally entitled to be sworn in and the
argument of the majority that, once sworn
in. he could not be expelled.
tie deiended the action of the MormOns
IN 1lghtlng the authority of the United
States for years because he said. they be-
lieNed that sentiment would change and
dramatlcally stated that in those DAYS he
mad rather have his flesh heWn from his
nohes than to have renounced his religious
tenets He concluded with a peroration in
which he said he had never been conscious
OF shameful act, and if he was sent forth
ne would go with head erect and undaunted
nioM. StrdhSe TO say, most of the ap-
piause ne Won was from women But
"nile tney appeared to be his only parti-
suns 4ther women manifested their hostili-
~ oE Missing him at every opportunity.
Ihe speech made by MIR. Littlefield who
succeeds the late Mr.. Dingley, in defense
OF the minority proposition to seat and
lheh expel Mr.. Roberts stamped him as
one of the coming men in the House and
made deep impression
MISS ROBERTS, daughter of Mr. Roberts.
was III the reserved gallery throughout the
depate yesterday.
MIR. LittlefieId's Remarks.
hr' Littieileid said the minority stood
with Burke, the statesman of the eieb-
teehth century; with jefferson, Madison
Hamliton, Gouverneur Morris and the men
VINO framed the Constitution; with the de-
clsions or the courts of Maryland, Montana
ana Virginia; with the opinions of Storey
Cooley, Gushing, John Randolph Tucker
ana Webster. He then challenged Mr.. Tay-
Ter 5 statement that no precedent existed
against exclusion, citing the case of Benja-
hhh stark IN The Senate in 1SG2 who was
charged with disloyalty, yet who was seat
ed by the Senate without prejudice to sub
s"quent action against him
he majority, he pointed out, had cited
of this fact.
L believe" said Mr.. Littlefeld, conclud
iiS ms comment on this particular case
that Mr.. Roberts has ii full constitutional
right to seat in this House"
The applause which swept over the floor
IN response to this statement extended to
the galleries, many of the ladies there nres
ent pdrtiCiDdting
The WhitteInore case which occurrad i'm,
mediately after the war. Mr.. LittlefieId
s4ld, was poor precedent. The passions
OF the war had not cooled, and he believed
the action of the House in excluding him at
tndt time on the ground of selling cadet
ShlpS was unwarranted and ill advised 1t
should not be quoted here in cold blood in
Tune of peace. Besides urged Mr.. Little
field. there was no reason why precedants
should be SldEi>IlV fnilnu.1
70 the manner in which eX-Speaker Reed
mad overturned the preccdentS of Il century
paying a tribute to him as the man of
iron, who had converted the House from
an unorganiZed mob into an instrument
which registered the will of the people"
MT. ldltlcheid then turned to the Cunsid-
efttlon of the proposition that if the House
had Il right to add to the qualifications Of
member the disqualification imposed by
the Edmunds act did not apply to Mr.. Rob
erts, because a member of Congress was
not an officer under the United States"
within the meaning of the statute.
He then attacked the proposition of the
majority that Mr.. Roberts had violated the
compact between Utah and the United
States. He asked where the authority for
the statement that there was an under
standing between state and the United
States came from. Eloquently he declared
that the idea of a compact between the
states had been the father of secession
blotted out by the lives of half a million
of men.
The Right to Expel.
Mr.. Iittletields defense Of the PROPOSE
ton of the minority that tho House had a
right to eXpel Mr.. Roberts concluded his
argument. He aroused a great deal of en-
thusasm when he recalled the difficult po-
sitiOn in which eX-Speaker Reed had been
placed in the last Congress when General
Wheeler returned from the Spanish war,
covered with laurelS, to resume his seat in
the House, and the difficult task of Speak
cr Henderson, then chairman of the COM
Inittee on judiciary, who was obliged to
report against General Wheeler. No mere
patriotic sentiment permitted them to over
ride the plain dictates of their duty.
That action, Mr.. Littletield said, was
eternally to their credit.
Proceeding, he pointed out the unques
toned right of either house to expel
member for any cause deemed sufficient.
This power was unque1tioned, and before
1t was exercised Mr.. Roberts should be
sworn in.
we state upon our consciences and
oaths," said he, that he should have the
full benefit of the fundamental law of the
land" Great applause)
Mr.. Littlefeld closed rather abruptly.
Mr.. Tayler then renewed his request for
an agreement for a vote at 4:3O Thursday.
Mr.. Crumpacker Ind) objected.
Mr. Roberts Presents His Case.
Upon the request of Mr.. Tayler Mr.. Rob
erts was then given one and half hours
IN Wflcn 70 present MS sue Ol llle case
\ good deal Of confusion had followed
Mr. Littlefield's speech, and it was some
time before order could be restored. Then
Mr.. Roberts, standing in the side aisle near
the center of the House. opened his speech.
His words were scarcely audible at first
but his voice grew louder he proceeded.
He appeared quite at ease and spoke with
out evidence of temper. The two argu-
ments just presented, he began, made it
appear that there was difference of opin-
ion as to the method of procedure in the
case of the member from Utah" From
his standpoint, he could agree with neither
view presented.
Il find myself in the position said he
where l might say with propriety: A
plague on both your houses, since both
propose my undoing" Qaughter) but, he
continued the situation was not altogeth-
er without its advantages. He was con-
vinced with the minority that the House
had no right to exclude him, and with the
ma iority that, once admitted, he could not
be expelled
Between the two said he, matters fall
out about / would have them, and sub
stautial justice will be done. Renewed
laughter).
Mr. Roberts gave notice that he should
appropriate the arguments of the majority
against expulsion and those of the minority
against exclusion.