The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-10
(SnecIaI 70 The Hera1dn


Washington, Jan. chairman Tay-
Ter stated today that he had received
no word from John c. Carlisle. and
from this fact il is inferred that that
gentleman Will not appear before the
committee tomorrow. In that event
there viii be no further statement from
MI Roberts, and the committee will
undoubtedly proceed at once to act in
executive session and consider the
case.
A great deal of interest has been
aroused by the fact recently ascer-
tanned that there viii be a strong mi
nority report in the case. 1t is well
known now that at least four members
of the committee will sign the report,
and that is but one short of a majority.
OF course. it is not known to what
extent the minority report may so,
/ but whether it is signed by a few or
many, it viii recommend, that Roberts
be seated on his prima facie case. There
has been a constantly growing convic-
| ton among members of the house shat
a very great mistake was made by the
anti-Roberts people at the outset.
Claim Actual Majority.
Several of the eastern papers have
printed statements to the effect that
an actual majority of the committee
would at the conclusion Of he consider
alton Of the case in executive session
recommend that Roberts be sworn in.
This, Of course, implies that at least
five members win sign the report Ia
voring Roberts prima facie recOgni-
ton. One Of these papers is the New
York sun, which this morning pub
fishes the following:
"A dispatch printed in the Sun brings
the wholesome news that a majority Of
the house committee engaged in inves-
ugating the right of Roberts, the Nor
mon, to his seat as representative
realize that a blunder has been commit
ted in endeavoring to prevent Roberts
from taking his seat. If this accurately
describes the committees state of mind,
their proper course is one Of extreme
simplicity and ease.
Let Him Be Seated.
Assuming that Roberts is eligible
SO far as 1t concerns his citizenship
let him be seated, in accordance with
the requirements Of the federal cOnsti-
tuition. What the house should do then
is not now a subject for consideration.
What disappointment or modification
the committee may feel at not finding
justification for excluding Roberts, as
they had evidently set out to exclude
him, is of no importance For several
years past the Democrats have been
handing over to the Republicans the
responsibility ard the reputation fer
understanding the federal law and de-
Tending it. It would be inconceivable
folly, for Republican house of repre-
ssntatives te wantOnly begin a reversal
Of this process. That it would do as
surediy if it should bar Roberts from
the house. or representatives on the
grounds first advocated by the Tayler
committee"
The Sober Second Thought.
There are several reasons which have
operated to considerably alter cOndi-
tions in the house on the subject of
Roberts since the sandbag perform
ance OF the first day. At that time
there was a strong feeling that some
thing must be done to appease Sup
posedly excited constituents, and
hasty course was adopted which has
since been criticised by many newspa-
pers. and which many good lawyers IN
the house do not now believe tenable.
It is now undoubtedly within the
range of possibility that that commit
tee may report in favor Of seating Rob-
erts, and if this is DONE surprising
though it may seem, the chances are
that the report viii be adopted and
Roberts presented at the bar and
sworn IN. This would carry with it