Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-18

WASHINGTON, January 1.-THE
special committee of the House OF Rep
resentatives to investigate the case OF
Brigham H. Roberts, of Utah, to-day
reached a final conclusion. On the
polygamous status of Mr.. Roberts the
committee was unanimous and agreed
upon a formal statement of facts. On
the question of procedure to be adopt
ed the committee was divided. The
majority, consisting of all the members
except Littlefeld. of Maine. and De
Almond, of Missouri, favored exclu-
sion at the outset. Messrs. Littletield
and De Almond will make a minority
report favorable to seating Roberts ON
his prima facie rights and then expell-
ing him.
The statement of facts found by the
committee is as follows:
1--WE find that B. H. Roberts was
elected as a 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 n~aturalized citizen OF the
United States and was an inhabitant
of the State of Utah.
I'VE 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, sine
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 to Celia Dibble he contracted
Another Plural Marriage
with Margaret c.. Ship, 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 Janu-
airy, 1897, or that before that date she
held him out as her husband or that
before that date they were reputed 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
these facts was taken in the presence
of Mr.. Roberts and that he fully cross
examined the witnesses, but declined
to place himself on the witness chair"
The eliminating session of the COM
mittee to-day followed many prolonged
executive sessions, which left no doubt
as to the attitude of the several mem
bers, with the exception of Mr.. Meirs,
of Indiana. who has been out of the
city. He returned to-day and it was
determined to bring the matter to a
direct issue. Accordingly, when the
committee met Mr.. Mcpherson. of
Iowa, offered a resolution for the ex-
clusion of Roberts.
Mr.. De Almond Immediately pro-
posed a substitute recognizing
The constitutional Rights
of Roberts to take his seat on his
credentials and providing for his ex-
pulsion.
There was no discussion beyond for
NAL remarks. and the vote vas first
taken on Mr.. De Almonds substitute,
Mr.. Littlefield joining him in the afir-
native and the others voting in oppo-
sition. The vote was then taken on
MIR. McPherson's motion to exclude, re-
sulting as follows:
Yeas-Tayler (Ohio), Frear, Morris
a nd Mcpherson, Republicans; Lehman
and Miers, Democrats.
Nays-Littleield, Republican; De
Almond, Democrat
lid lIdA Log = q I'LL AASN W
prepare the majority report 1t will be
ready in a few days, and the prospects
are hat the subject will be brought be-
fore the House early next week. Mr..
De Almond will submit the views of
the minority. He will include the ex-
haustive review of the law covering
about seventy typewriter pages, pre-
pared by Mr.. Littlefield. The main
point of this is that the House cannot
add to the requirements provided by
the constitution for admission to the
House, and that the only constitu-
tional remedy is to admit and then ex-
pei on the finding of the facts.
Chairman Tayler says the report of
the committee will be made on Satur-
day and the subject will be taken up in
the House next Tuesday.
Killed the Jailer.
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