The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-18
TWO REPORTS ON ROBERTS
Adverse Findings to Be Submitted
by the House Committee.
Mcssrs. LittlencId and De trncna
Differ with the Mnjority-Thcy
Concede the Primn Fncic Right to
Seat the Gentleman From Utah.
hut Favor Subsequent Expulsion.

So far as the special committee appoint
against Representative-elect Brigham II
Roberts OF Utah is concerned. the case is
closed. 1t was settled by the committee in
executive session yesterday. BY a vote Of
. to it was decided that Mr.. Roberts
should be excluded from the House. There
fore two reports on the case will be pre-
sented to the House on Saturday. There
was no difference OF opinion in the commit
tee on the question Of facts as brought out
in the testimony, and on this point the
committee was unanimous. The finding OF
facts follows:
I'VE find that b. II. Roberts was elected
as Representative to the Fifty-sixth Con-
the date Of his election above the age Of
twenty-five years; that he had been for
more than seven years naturalized citi-
zen of the United States, and was an in
habitant OF the State of Utah.
I'VE further find that about 1878 he LIAR
ried 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 II. 1897
That some years after his said mar
riage 10 Celia DibDie lie contracted an
other plural marriage with Margaret C.
Shipp. 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. II 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 be-
fore that date they were reputed to be
husband and wife.
THAT these facts were generally known
in Utah. publicly charged against him dur
ing his campaign fer election, and were
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-
iued the witnesses. but declined to place
himself on the witness stand
But 1t was the question of procedure
that caused the split in the committee.
The majority Of the committee contend
that Mr.. Roberts should be excluded. aud
will so report. It was said last night that
the majority report. which will be sigced
by Chairman Tayler. Freer. Mcpherson.
Morris, and Lands. Republicans ans;
Lanham and Mic Hc-c--7.-. will con-
tain most of the arguments made by Mr..
Tayler in support of his resolution which
was adopted by the House. denying the
right to Mr.. Roberts to take the oath of
office
Mr.. Littlefeld (Rep) will draw up the
minority report, which will be signed by
Mr.. De Armond (Dem.). The minority, it
is said. will claim that Mr. Roberts has a
prime facie right to be sworn in as men,
Der of the House. and will so recommend.
with a proviso. that being n polygamist.
which makes him a violator of the laws of
the United States, he should be expelled
after he takes his seat
These reports will be made to the House
on Saturday and ordered to be printed.
They will be called up one day next week
IL Is understood that Mr.. Roberts will be
given an opportunity to reply to the re-
ports. 1t is generally conceded that the
majority report will be adopted