The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-14
ROBERTS AND CLARK
Sensational Cases Keep Western
Correspondents Busy.
ROBERTS CASE DEBATE
WILL PROBABLY LAST FOR
THREE DAYS.
Many Members Have Signihed Their
Desire to Discuss the Case-Cru-
saders Disappointed By the Fail
ure to Expel Roberts-Arid Land
Bill and Other Western Measures.
fsneclal Corresnonnencs,

Especial Correspondence
Washington, D. C.. Jan S.-The Rocky
mountain states have been furnishing a
great deal of news from Washington
since the beginning Of the new year. With
the Roberts hearing occupying the atten-
ton Of Il house special committee and the
Clark bribery charges under oonsidera-
ton by the senate committee on priv
ileges and elections, there has been
enough news to keep all the western cor
respondents bus The Associated Press
and other press Organizations have car
rled extended accounts of both these
bearings, and the New York and eastern
specials have paid great deal Of atten-
ton to them.
There has been a large attendance of
visitors from the states involved notably
from Montana. which has a good sized
convention of citizens here following the
testimony IN the Clark case. The latter
VIII run for some time vet before the
committee on privileges and elections but
the Roberts case has been closed in COM
mlltee and will now be taken up in the
mousse. II IS the purpose Of Congressman
r. W. Tayler, who is chairman of the
Roberts special committee to cOmn9ence i
the arguments in the house not later than
the 10Th Of the month. It is not yet GER
tain just what the majority report will be.
but there is small reason for doubling
that 1t viii recommend that he be not
sworn. which. of course viii amount to
denying that he ever was "a member Of
congress, deprive him Of the right to the
HOOr as an eX-member. and also of a
number Of privileges that he would pos
seSS in the way of mileage. stationery ac-
count, and perhaps also the allowances
Tor expenses generally provided in con
tested election cases. It is improbable
that there will be any expulsion. for of
course a man cannot be expelled from
body IN which he has not been sworn as
a member.
The failure to expel him will not be
very satisfactory to some of the anti
Mormon extremists in congress. but il
done, as that course seems to nave been
estopped by the manner in which he was
halted at the bar
There will be a minority report. which
will recommend that he be sworn, as his
title to his seat has not been successfully
assailed. 1t is not certain what the mi
nority report will say on the subject of
the proof of pOlVgamOuS relations. The
reports in the case viii be followed by
discussions lasting at least three DAYS
and likely to be very One-sided. A great
many new members have already put
their names on Chairman Taylers lists.
The present indications are that the whole
matter viii be disposed of before the end
of January.
Arid Land Bill.
Representative John c. Shafroth ex-
presses himself as extremely confident
That his bill granting each of the arid
land states 100000 acres of land viii be-
come q law this congress He has drawn
it as it was finally reported from the
house public lands committee last year,
50 that il viii be certain not to meet
opposition in that committee. I shall do
my best TO get this measure through this
Year. said Mr.. Shafroth tonight. i am
sure that it is wise for US to take this
course, instead Of undertaking to get all
the arid land given to US. A million acres
IS quite enough for any of the states to
undertake. TO reclaim anyway. OF course
il We are successful in improving this
much there ought 10 be no hesitation on
the part of congress. about giving each
state as nIScE more as she might desire
1t should be remembered that this bill.
as now presented. received a unanimous
report from the committee at the second
session of the last congress. and that l
was only awaiting recognition under sus-
pension Of the rules to have secured its
passage. | have no doubt that there VIII
be another favorable report this year
The bill does not deal with grazing lands
at all, only with those that can be re-
claimed by irrigation.
To Amend Land Laws.
Representative Monden has introduced
bill amending section Z294 Of the Re
viSsd Statutes to read as follows. Here
after all affidaVits and proofs and Oatns
of any kind whatsoever required TO be
made by applicants anu entrymen under
the homestead. presumption timber Cui-
ture, desert land and timber and Stone
acts, may be made before any commits
SlOner OF the United States circuit court
or before the judge or clerk of any court
of record IL the land district IN which
the lands are situated. and the proof.
adavit or oath when 50 made and duly
subscribed shall have the same force and
effect as If made before the register and
receiver. wheE transmitted to them with
the fees and commissions allowed and re-
quired by law. That if any witness max
ing such proof or any applicant making
such affidavit or oath snail knowingly,
W1lfully or COrruptly swear falsely 10 any
material matter contained in said proofs,
andaVits or OatnS, ne snail be deemed
guilty OF perjury, and shall be liable to
the same pains and penalty as if he had
sworn falsely before the register That
the said fees for entries and for final
proof. when made before any other officer
than the register and receiver shall be.
For each affidavit , cents. for each dep
ositiOn of claimant or Witness when not
prepared by the officer. 25 cents: for each
deposition Of claimant or witness. pre-
pared by the officer 81 ANY officer de-
such service shall be guilty Of a INSIDE
meanor. and upon conviction. shall be
punished for each offense by a fine not
exceeding sl00."
To Benefit Volunteers.
He also presented a bin providing that
entrymen who have served i'm the army
navy or in the Philippine Islands and
has bsen hOnUrdbly discharged VINO NAV
enter a tract Of Ind under the homestead
laws shall be entitled TO have the time
OF such service deducted from the time
heretofore required to perfect title. or If
discharged on account of wounds receiv-
ed or disability incurred in the line of
duty then the term Of enlistment shall
be deducted from the time heretofore re-
quired 10 perfect tide. without references
TO the length Of time he may have served
Sod sa-rLar Mhn haz IL ----.---.-l -