The Portland daily press., 1900-01-22
THE MORMON.
The Committees Denuncia-
ton.
Roberts UNIT and UnNorthy-the Ma
Jority Used strong Terms.

Washington, January 20.-Ths House
spent an hour today in disposing Of bills
fayorably reported and among those
passed were the measures to build the
League Island and Mare Island dry docks
Of sto ne instead Of timber. The reports
on the Roberts case were also received.
An hour was given to pronouncing Gu
logies on the late Representative Dan
ford of Ohio.
The majority report Of the Roberts com
mittse In some parts uses strong Ian
guage against MIR. Roberts As to plural
marriages, II says;
THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION.
"For convenience, We present herewith,
before proceeding to extended argument,
In support Of the com mittee's resolution,
the following summary:
Upon the facts stated, the majority
OF the committee assert that the claim
ant ought not 70 be permitted 20 take n
seat In the House of Representatives. and
the seat 20 which he 10 elected ought 10
be declared vacant.
"Tbe rninurity, on the other hand, as
sert that he ought TO be sworn In. In
order that n it happens there 10 two
thirds vote, therefore ne may be expelled.
"Three distinct grounos OF disqualin H.
cation are asserted against hooerts;
"l--By reason OF his violation Of the
Edmunds law.
"2-By reason Of his notorious and de-
liant violation Of the Law OF the land
on tina decisions of the Supreme court,
and. of the proelamations Of the Prssi-
dents. holding himself above the law and
not ar enable 10 it.
"No government could possibly exist
In the face OF such practices He IL In
open war against the laws asd institu.
lions OF the country whoss Congress he
seeks to enter. such IN idea 10 intolera-
BILE 1t Is upon the priaciple asserted 10
this ground that ali oases Of expulsion
| have been based.
"3-His election rs rspret entative IL
an explicit and offensive violation OF the
understanding by which Utah was ad-
mittsd as q state.
"Ths objection Is made TO the refusal to
admit Roberts that tbs constitution ex-
ciudss the idea that any objsction oan b.
made to his coming In II he Is 20 yeaA I
OF age, has been seven yearA . citizen OF
the United states and was m inhabitant
| OF Utah when elected, no matter how
odious or reasonable or criminal may
have been his life. and practices. Io
| this We reply:
"i-That the Language Of the constitu
tionAl provision. ths history OF Its franz
| ing In the constitutional convention,
and Its contest clearly shows that II can
not be construed 10 prevent disqualified
| ton for crimes.
is2-That the over whsln,iae authority
| of te1t book writers on the constitution
| Is to ths effect that such disqualifica-
ton may be- imposed by the House and
no oommsntstor on the constitution
specifically denies it.
"3-That the courts Of several states
| In constituting analogous provisions have
with practical unanfmitv declared
against such narrow constructions OF such
constitutional provisions.
"4-Ths Houfe OF Representatives mai
never denied that 10 had the right 20 ex
einds . member elect, svea when he has
the thres constitutional rsquirements
| "5-In many instances 1t has distinctly
asserted its right 90 TO do In cases OF
disloyalty and crime
tiai disqualification for mem bsrship In
Congress, disqualifying hundreis Of
Thousands of American eitizsnA This
law remained In fores far 20 years, and
thoC sands of membsrs OF Congress were
compelled to taks the 9 ,sta y reg n'rea.
eral rule Of order. providing that no Per
son should be sworn In - a membeI
whom the DIGESTION was male that b.
| vas not entitlea to take the test oath and
II, on Investigation, such fact appeared,
he was to be permanently dsbarred from
entrance.
| "S-Ths interesting proposition u
made that the claimant be sworn In and
then turned out. Upon the theory thai
the purpose Is TO permanently part com
p.ny with Dir. Roberts this 10 u dubious
proceeding. such action requires ths
vote OF two-thirds of ths members. W.
ask II such a voss 10 possible OF right, In
view of the following observations;
"lhs expulsion CLAUSE OF the conssitu
tion Is as follows: