The Saint Paul globe., 1900-01-18

Should BE Expelled, and Not Ex-
cIuded-Majority for Exclusion.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE special
committee Of the house Of representatives
to investigate the case of Brigham H.
Roberts, Of Utah, today reached a final
conclusion. On the polygamous status of
Mr.. Roberts the committee was unani-
nous, and agreed upon a formal state
ment of facts. On the question Of pro-
cedure to be adopted the committee was
divided
The majority, consisting Of all the men,
bers. except Littlefeld, Of Maine and De
Almond, of Missouri, favored exclusion
at the outset. Messrs. Littlef1eld and De
Almond will make a minority report
favorable to seating Roberts on his prima
facie rights and then expelling him.
The statement Of facts found by the
committee is as follows:
eve find that B. H. Roberts was elect
ed as representative to the Fifty-sixth
congress 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
citizen of the United States and was an
inhabitant of the state Of Utah.
1--WE further find that about 1878 he
married 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
"About 1855 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 chill
dren, Of which the last were twins, born
Aug II, 1897.
"That some years after his said mar
riage to Celia Dibble he contracted an
other plural marriage with Margaret @.
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. 1t does not
appear that he held her out as his wife
before Jan. /, 1897, or that before that
date she held him out as her husband.
or that before that date they were re-
puted 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 him
self on the witness stand"
VOTE ON EXCLUSION.
The eliminating session Of the COM
mittee today followed many prolonged
executive sessions, which left no doubt
as to the attitude Of the several men,
bers, with the exception of Mr.. Miers
Qnd.) who had been out of the city. He
returned today and 1t was determined to
bring the matter to q direct issue. Ac-
cordingly, when the committee met, Mr..
Mcpherson Qo.) offered resolution for
the exclusion Of Roberts.
Mr. De Almond Immediately proposed
a substitute, recognizing the constitution
al rights Of Roberts to take his seat on his
credentials and providing for his expul-
sion.
There was no discussion beyond infor-
NAL remarks, and the vote was first taken
on Mr.. De Almonds substitute, Mr.. Lit
tlef1eld joining him in the affirmative and
the others voting in opposition. The vote
was then taken on Mr.. McPherson's mo-
ton to exclude, resulting as follows:
Yeas-Taylor (O), Frear, Morris and
Mcpherson, Republicans; Lanham and
Nays-Littlefield, Republican; De Ar
mond, Democrat.
Chairman Taylor was authorized to
prepare the majority report. 1t will be
ready in a few days and the prospects
are that the subject will be brought be-
fore the house early next week. Mr.. De
Almond will submit the views of the mi
nority. He will include the exhaustive
review of the law, covering about seventy
typewriter pages, prepared by Mr. Lit
tlefeld The main point Of this is that
the house cannot add to the requirements
provided by the constitution for admis-
sion to the house, and the only constitu-
tional remedy is to admit and then expel
on the finding Of facts.