The Forrest City times., 1900-01-19
BRIGHAM H.R|)BERTS' CASE
Report of the Committee of Investi- gation Will be Adverse to
 the Utah Man.
1 DIFFERENCE As REsARDs PROCEDURE.


 q Majority of Two Members Think
 nr. Roberts Should he Permitted
 to Take His Seat and Then be Ex- pelIed Majority Think He
 ShouIas't he Seated at All.
 Washington, Jan. 1s--The special committee of the house of representa- lives to investigate the case of Brig ham H. Roberts, of Utah, reached a Anal conclusion On the poiygamous status of MT. Roberts. the committee vas unanimous, and agreed upon q formal statement of facts On the srcstion of procedure to be adopted, he committee, was divided.
 A Difference - to the Procedure. The majority, consisting of all the members except Littlefeld, of Maine. end De Armond, of Missouri, favored exclusion at the outset. Messrs. Lit 1lefeld and De Armond will make . minority report favorable to seating Roberts on his prima facie rights and these expelling him.
 The statement of facts found by the committee is as follows:
 The Committees Findings.
 I've find that B. H. Roberts was elected as a representative to the Eff ty-sixth congress from the state of Utah and was. at the date of his elec- ton, above the age of 25 years; that Ks. hcI hoep for v,,cro than raaru . naturalized citizen of the United States, and was an inhabitant of the state of Utah.
 Wife No. |.
 'We further find that, about 1878, Ae married Louisa Smith, his first and lawful wife, with whom he has ever sinte lived as such, and who, since children.
 Wife No. 2.
 About 1885, he married, as his plural wife, Celia Dibble, with whom Ae has ever since lived as such and who, since such marriage, has borne hm six children of which the last were twins, born August Il. 1897.
 Wife No. 8.
 ~That some years after his said mar iage to Celia Dibble he contracted an- other plural marriage with Margaret L. Shipp, with whom he has ever sincc lived in the habit and repute of marriage.
 -Your committee is unable to fix the rxact date of this marriage. It does not appear that he held her out as his wife before January l, 1897, or that before that date she held him ont as her husband. or that before that date they were repufed to be husband and wife
 Facts Generally Known.
 sThat 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 bearingon these facts was taken in the presence of Mir Roberts, and that he fully cross-ex- srnincd the witnesses, but declined to place himself on the witness stand"
 The CuIminating Session.
 The eliminating session of the com Hlittea followed many prolonged ex- ecutive sessions, which left no doubts ss to the attitude of the several mem bers, with the exception of MT. Miers, of Indiana, who had been out of the city. He returned, and it was deter mined to. bring the matter to a direct issue Accordingly. when the commit ice met Mr. McPherson, of Iowa, of- 1ered resolution for the exclusion of Roberts.
 De ArmonL's substitute.
 Mir. De Armond. immediately pro- posed substitute recognizing the con- Slcntional right of Roberts to take his seat on his credentials, and providing for his expulsion.
 There was no discussion beyond in- formal remarks, and vote was first Ksken on Mir. DeArmond's affirmative, and the others voting in opposition. The vote. was then taken on MT. Me Pherson's motion to exclude. result SnY as follows:
 Yeas-Tayler (O.), Frear. Morris and NcPherson, republicans. Lanham and Alters, democrats.
 Nays-Littlefield, republican; De Armond, democrat.
 To Prepare Reports.
 Chairman Tayler was authorized to prepare the majority report. It will be ready in few days, and the pros poets are that the subject will be brought before the house early next week. MT. DeArmond will submit the views of the minority.
 Senator Gears Rc-Election.
 Des Moines, la. Jan. 1s.-At noon she Iowa legislature met in joint ses-