The evening times., 1900-01-25
THE debate ON ROBERTS
Argument Continued in the House
Of Representatives.
Che Question of the Eligibility of the
Member-EIect From Utah and the
Method of Refusing Him "a Seat
DiScu~sed-The Various views Of
the Proper Mode Of Procedure.

The debate on the Roberts case was con-
tinued in the House today. The fact that
the last speeches for and against the Rep
resentative-elect from Utah were to be
made. and a conclusion regarding his right
TO a seat in Congress reached before the
House adjourned for the day brought out
a large crowd, which completely filed the
galleries.
The first speaker ives Mr. Sims Of Ten
nessee. He said that ever since the cleo
tion Of 1898 the members had received
thousands )f petitions asking that Roberts
be expelled. Some Of the petitions wanted
the House to adopt an amendment TO the
Constitution making inyone guilty OF
polygany ineligible TO a seat in Congress.
He called attention TO the fact that the
resolution introduced by Mr.. Tayler stat
ed n Il Roberts was ineligible.
Eligibility, ne said, was a question Of
law. The Constitution determined eligibili-
ty. The House could not add to the quaiif-
cations of a member Mr. Sims argl-
ment was mainly confined 10 the constitu-
tionaI ques ions involved He made
strong arg, p. mt in support OF the minori-
ty report.
The next speaker was Mr. Johnston OF
West Virginia. He read flom manuscript
and his argument was in support of the
minority report. He said il had been con
ceded that at the time OF Mr.. Roberts
election he possessed all the Qualif-
cations for membership, and il was not
now claime- that he had lost any Of those
rfr1Tf ffir.gr ions no he said han
no power 20 add 10 the qualifications pre-,
scribed by the Constitution. The House
had the .ight 70 expel and it was not
necessary that an act should be committed
after taking the oath Of Office Roberts
Mr.. Johnson contendcd. was a member OF
the House after the 18th OF March 1888.
and TO exp-l him would be entirely within
the Constitution.
Mr. B.osius OF Pennsylvania made a
! brief speech in support Of the majo1ty re-
port He did not believe, he said, in
/ clinging 20 technicsliJies in the face Of
the popular will. which was that Roberts
should be excluded from the House.
! Mr. GroUt Of Vermont criticised the MT
nority report. Why. he asked admi, Rob
/ erJs and then eNpel him. as recommended
/ by the minority report, who admit that he
ought not 20 be a member?
Mr.. Talbert Of South Carolina asked
| why let Roberts in and then kick him
out? ! say keep him out" These re-
| marks were greeted with applause.
! Mr.. Talbert said he believed IN giving
/ a dog the benefit OF a doubt but iu This
! case he said there was no doubt. He
should vote 70 keep Roberts out. not te-
/ cause Of the law On the question. but be
/ cause il was demanded IN the interest Of
public morality and the American home.
Mr.. Adamson Of Georgia argued in sup
| port Of the minority report There was no
question. he said, but that more than two
thirds Of the House would vote 10 eNpel
/ the Reprezeutatiye-elect from Uts1. a
member he said was entitled TO be sworn
in when lis certificate was regular and he
/ possessed the qualifications enumerated in
| the Constitution. Il was not claimed that
/ Roberts did not possess the necessary le-
/ gal qualification Mr.. Adsms0u combat
/ ed the idea that there should be a compact
| or contract between the United States and
/ Utah. He was opposed 10 doing against
/ law and order what could be done in a
( legal manner.
/ Mr. Ray. Of New York. said Roberts
| stood indicted for polygamy when he pre-
I sented himself before the House 20 be
4 sworn in. The Constitution had been
| brought in. and the gentleman from Utah
| had in his speech. the other day. warned
! the House against violating IT, This case.
however. Mr.. Ray said. would warrant a
| violation Of the Constitution. II would be
| within the bounds OF the Constitution. he
! concluded. 20 exclude Roberts
The first member Of the Roberts com
mittee 9 speak was Mr.. Freer. of West
| Virginia. He said he had heard no much
Constitutional law in this case that he
| was almost bewildered. The majority re
| port he said. declared the law as il was
today and clearly defined the power Of the
! House.
Il shall vote TO exclude the member from
I Utah" he said because he is an open
| viOatOr Of the law and is unworthy Of a
seat on the floor Of this House"
1 Mr.. Freer claimed that there was com
! pact between the United States and Utan
/ by which the latter was admitted 10 State
/ hood Had not Utah promised to prohibit
/ polygamy he said, she would never have
/ been admitted into the Union
! Mr. Griffith Of Indiana wanted the House
! 10 stand by the law and not to be swayed
| by popular clamor. He was opposed TO
/ brute force. He wanted Roberts kept out,
| but he wanted IL done in accordance with
\ the Constitution by a twO-third vote
/ While Mr.. Griffith was speaking, Roberts
| came i'm on the floor and took a seat next
| TO Mr.. Richardson. the Democratic leader.
/ and engaged him in conversation.
Mr. Griffith said there could be no ques-
|
wanted Roberts kept out. but they wanted
| il done in accordance with Law.
/ Mr. Griffith was followed by Mr.. Moody
! Of Massachusetts, who said he had studied
| the question for himself. and had arrived
| at the conclusion that the House had tie
right 10 exclude and the right to ezpeI
| He favored exclusion
Mr. Gibson Of Tennessee. spoke next He
| said he had studied the question and had
| reached the conclusion that the Constitu-
tion gave the House power 10 exclude q
| member He charged that the Mormon
church was an organized conspiracy against
! the Christian religion.
Mr.. Grosvenor Of Ohio said he had
/ listened 10 all the speeches made in the
| case He paid a handsome tribute to the
! argument made by Mr.. Littlefeld which
! he said was the ablest argument he had
| ever heard He would vote, he said, fol
| the majority report
BY previous agreement vote will be
taken at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon.