The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-02-01
ROBERTS EXPELLED FROM
HOUSE.
SENATORS CONTINUE TO DISCUSS
THE AMENDMENT.

Special to The CAUCASIAN.
WASHINGTON, d. C.
The House, after two days discus
sion and consideration of the report
OF the Committee on the Roberts
case, expelled the member from
Utah by an overwhelming vote, on
the ground that he is violating the
laws of the United States that were
enacted especially to prohibit the
practice of poIygamy. Mr.. Roberts
was allowed to make q speech in his
own behalf, but the sentiment of the
House against his retaining seat
IN that body was too strong and de-
termined to be overcome. Consider
alton of appropriation bills has been
the chef work engaging the atten-
ton Of the House.
In the Senate the discussion of
Senator Pritchard's resolution with
reference to the proposed amend
has occupied much of the time of
that body.
While Senator Pritch ard was de-
livering his famous speech on the
amendment to confer suffrage BY
inheritance. as Is proposed in North
Carolina he was interrupted by Sen
ator Allen, of Nebraska, who is 40
,rdent personal and political friend
# W. J. Began, to inquire of the
Senator from North Carolina If the
pending amendment would not be
violation Of the Constitution of
the United States. Senator Pri.-
cnard replied that it certainly would
be, If he was correct in his visus
Win reference to the question
whereupon Senator Allen emph att
cally declared that "such an amend
ment would be declared by the
Courts to be in violation of the
spirit Or the letter of the Federal
CONSTITUTIONS"
This declaration on such an i'm
portant Constitutional question
should have great weight on accom-,
OF the generally acknowledged ability
of Senator Allen as a lawyer.
Senator McEnery, of Louisiana,
made speech on Senator Pritchard's
resolution and IN the course of the
speach Senator McEnery if he did
not write to the Louisiana Constitu-
tlonal Convention that the "graud-
father clause was "grosslv uncon-
stitutional", Senator McEnery re-
piled as follow: Yes sir, when the
Constitutional Convention was in
session l was telegrapaed to know
wtat was my opinion Of this section
B. l replied to that telegram that
IN my opinion it was unconstitntion
al. | then received another telegram,
after It's adoption, to know if when
it was attacked, l would defend 1t in
the Senate Of the Unlted States
To that telegram 1 replied that l
would"
So it will be seen from the above
that Senator Nee aery not only ad-
n,ts that the measure is unconstitu-
tlonal, but IN supporting it now he
g simply carrying out his pledge to
10 so, Notwithstanding the fact he
still holds that it is unconstitution-
II.
Senator Butler also called upon
senator McEnery to give his opinion
Is to whether or not if section 5 Is
unconstitutional the Courts would
Knock out that section and leave the
emainder of the amendment valid |
Ind operative. Senator McEnery
efused to reply.
Senator Money, of Mississippi also |
poke on the proposition maintaining
hat it was constitutional. He cited |
) case from Mississippi to show tina,
he whole amendment would fall if
me part were unconstitutional, and
'rgued that the Supreme Court has
o held in Williams VS.. Mississippi
20 U. S.
Senator Butler interrupted and
,sked permission to cite numerous
asses in which the Supreme Court
ad decided that only the unconsti-
utional part, if separable, would
all, and the remainder would still
tand and be operative, but Senator
1oney deliberately refased to allow
be cases to be cited. SenatD r But
Or replied that it seemed as though
he Mississippi Senator did not want
ne people to know all Of the facts.
There will be many more speeches
lade on this important QUESTION
'hich IS attracting a.great deal of
ttention here.