Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-01-22
THE REPORT ON ROBERTS.
Majority.s opinion of Investigating
Committee u severe Rebuke for the

MaJCr1ty1 opinion Oh fluSestlgatnS
Committee II severe Rebuke for the
Mormon.
Washington, Jan. 2o.-In the report of
the special investigating committee on
the Roberts case. submitted to cons
gress Saturday, stress is laid by the
majority opinion on the fact that the
ablest lawyers from the beginning of
the republic have insisted that it is
doubtful whether admission to be fol-
lowed by expulsion can be legally done,
as the expulsion clause III the consti-
tution seems to contemplate only dis
orderiy behavior. Their reasoning has
been so consenu that three propositions
have been established, namely
4. Neither house OF congress has
ever expelled member for acts unre-
lated to his membership or inconsistent
with his public trust and duty as such.
- Both houses have many times re-
fused 10 expel where the guilt OF the
member was apparcnt. where refusal
10 expel was put upon the ground that
the house or senate, as the case might
be, had no right to expel for an act UNI
relaiedsto a member as such. OF because
il Mas committed piiSr q his elefst!e..
The report concludes as follows
Mindful of the gravity of the ques-
tion and realizing the responsibility inn
posed upon us. We recommend the
.adoption Of the following resolution:
Resolved That under the facts and
circumstances OF this case, Brigham III.
Roberts. repre- sentative-elect from the
state of Utah. ought not 10 have or hold
a scat in the house Of representatives,
and that seat 10 which he was elected
IS hereby declared vacant
Thesfullreport of the committee elah-
orates the summary and in some parts
uses strong language against Roberts,
to his plural marriages II SAYS.
Prior TO 1852 Il. III. Roberts had mar
Itrieti one Louisa Smith. she had borne
him six children and is still living.
About 1851, when Utah was fairly ring
ling with the blows OF the Edmunds act
I OF 1882. While numerous prosecutions
were going on and after the supreme
court had PASSED upon the validity of
the act: WIDEN the American people
supposed that palyGamy had received
It's deathblow. when no man Of the
many whose cases went to the United
states supreme court pretended that
the provisions against polygamous
marriages weise invalid, with u these
facts iitsis tentiy before him. Brigham
II Roberts tolk another wifez-his first
pnlygamous wife-Celia Dibbie by
nanse. Who in the following twelve
years Bore Kim six children.
This second wife ID married in de-
|lianae 81 the Eamunds act He spat
upon that lax ne declared by his act
that he recognized no binding rule upon
hin, u the Law OF congress; he declared
81 1t that lie receenlzeti a higher law.
The col! naes IS Of the United stats was,
q him an object Of contempt The su-
prenie court of the United states might
aeclare iaw ser afners. but mol Tor nam,
He laughed AT lis futile deeress aud
spufalesi its adfnnpitions- The executive
Iwhich had declared IN solemn messages
It's gratitieatiNn that polygany seemed
zorro forever ne dstied and despised. Of
what at,r s. SIpelsce 70 him We're the avs
| III congress, the designations Of the
l.hiehest court ard the preelanations 81
| presidents against his sensual inter-
| psetation d sensual i9etriiae
ard al the time he lsdmunas law
I.sDlarea that net Only lfoiygatny but
With mere than one
Woman WIS unlawful. Roberts not only
married q second wife, but
Is: sisted IN l.ioiatiilg aud dstianilg
| trampsna uader foot very other pros
lvissfll ~ The ac;.
.F,at ne had not yet sufficiently pro-
elaimed his utter contempt for the su-
I isr,4r,ie oel.i.t faf. congress and It's most
soiealn enaetmants y few years later
| ~ laok a third wife
| From the time Of his second mar