The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-18
REPORT AGAINST ROBERTS.
COMMITTEE DECIDE HE SHOULD
NOT DE SEATED.
Minority Differ I'm Details, Holding
That He should he Permitted to
Take His Seat and should There
after He Expelled From Congress.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE statement
of facts found by the committee is as fol-
lows:
1--WE find that b. H. Roberts was elected
as representative to the Fifty-sixth con-
gress from the state of Utah, and was at
the date of his election above the age of
twenty-five years; that he had been for
more than seven years a naturalized citi-
zen Of the United States and was an In
habitant of the state Of Utah.
eve further find that about 1878, he mar
ried Louisa Smith, his first and lawful
wife, with whom he has ever since lived
as such ana who since their marriage. has
borne him six children.
about 1885 he married. as his plural wife,
Celia DibbIe, with whom he has ever since
lived as such and who since such marriage
has borne him six children, OF which tho
last were twins, born August II. 1897.
THAT some years after his said marriage
to Celia Dibble he contracted another
plural marriage with Margaret G. Ship,
with whom he has ever since lived In the
habit and repute OF marriage.
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 i, 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.
That these facts were generally known
in Utah, publicly charged against him
during his campaign for election. and were
not denied by him That the testimony
bearing on those 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 the committee
today followed many prolonged executive
sessions, which left no doubt as to the
attitude Of the several members, with the
exception of Miers Qndiana), who had been
out of the city. He returned today and
it was determined to bring the matter to
direct issue. Accordingly when the COM
mittee met Mcpherson QowO offered q
resolution for the exclusion of Roberts
De Almond Immediately proposed sub
stitute, recognizing the constitutional rights
OF Roberts to take hisA seat on his creden-
tails and providing for hts expulsion.
There was no discussion beyond informal
remarks. A. vote was first taken on De
Almonds substitute. Littlefeld joining him
in the affirmative and the others voting In
opposition. The vote was then taken on
McPherson's motion to exclude, resulting
as follows:
Yeas-Taylor, Freare, Morris and Nc
Pherson, Republicans; Lanham and Miers
Democrats.
Nays-LittleAeld, Republican. and De
Almond, Democrat.
Chairman Taylor was authorized to pre-
pare the majority report. 1t will be ready
in few days, and the prospects are the
subject will be brought before the house
early next week. DE Almond will submit
the view of the minority He will include
the exhaustive review Of the law, covering
about seventy typewriter pages. prepared
by Littlefield. The main point Of this is
that the house cannot add to the require
merts provided by the constitution for
admission to the house and that the only
constitutional remedy is to admit and then
expel on the finding of facts.