Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-11
Petitions Opposing His Pres
ence in Senate Presented.
Mr.. HOAR'S COMMENT
DECLARES THAT SUCH APPEALS
ARE OUT OF PLACE.
Joint Resolution as to Mileage Adopt
ed-Three, Members of the House
Sworn In.

The Senate began business In earnest to-
day by receiving for the first time in the
session number of petitions and also
many bills, which were introduced by the
senator's. Petitions being first In order
many of them were presented some OF
them protesting against Senator Smoot or
Utah remaining in the Senate.
Mr.. Gallinger IN. H) was the first of the
senators to secure recognition for the in
PRODUCTION of bills. and the first bill intro
duced by him provided for the erection of a
statue to Gen. John Star.
In presenting numerOusly signed petit
ton asking the Senate to expedite the con-
sideration of the charges against Mr..
Smoot, Mr.. Hoar took occasion to remind
the senders of petitions bearing upon MI.
Shoots case that the proceeding is out of
order and improper. He based his remarks
upon the fact that the determination OF
Mr.. Shoots rights will be purely judicial
proceeding, to be determined by the laws
and the Constitution of the United States.
with all due respect to the signers OF
petitions of this character" he said. Il
want to say to them that their petitions are
as much out of place when addressed to
this high court as similar petitions would
be if addressed to the Supreme Court of the
United States in any case pending before
that tribunal
Taken as Keynote.
Senator Hoars comment sounds an i'm
portant keynote in the entire matter of the
question of the Utah senator's right to Oc-
cupy seat In the Senate. In view of the
importance of the precedent that will be
established in this case, it is expected that
the committee will go into 1t most thor
oughy and in that way settle for all future
time several important questions that will
IL 10 49,, Nf
the Mormon Church is elected to seat in
the Senate. The charges against Senator
Smoot include that of polygamy and of be-
longing to an organization governed by
twelve directors or apostles, who are al
legged to exercise autocratic powers in pO-
litcal well as religious affairs, and to
whom. 1t is alleged, he owes an allegiance
by reason of an oath he has taken superior
to his oath of allegiance as a senator of the
United States.
The question also comes up In this same
connection of the manner in which the
Mormon Church has laid aside the practice
of polygamy. 1t is alleged that the church
has, in view of exigencieS that have arisen
suspended" the practice of polygamy. The
mere suspension of such practice is very
far from having entirely abandoned 1t and
pronounced 1t to be an error. What effect
that will have upon the seating of the Utah
senator is to be seen.
The committee on privileges and elections
has a vast number of petitions bearing on
this matter and has been notified by Messrs
dudley q Kitchener, attorneys of this
city. that they will act in behalf of these
petitioners against the seating of Mr.
Smoot.
The exact line of procedure that will be
entered upon by the committee has not vet
been determined 1t will probably not be-
gin this investigation until after the reg
uiar session of the Fifty-eighth Congress
has assembled. To what ux,ent it will con-
quot the inquiry and whether it will call
witnesses from Utah and other details
concerning the matter are still matters for
the committee to determine.
Senator SmOot was in his seat in the Sem
ate today and listened attenttvely to what
Senator Hoar had to say in relation to the
improperly of sending petitions here bear
ing on this case.
When the Introduction of bills. resolu-
lions. etc, had been concluded the chair
laid before the Senate the House joint reso-
luton making Immediately available the
appropriation for mileage of senator's and
representatives, and ON motion of Mr.. Hale
1t was adopted.
The Senate then at 30 went into execu-
tive session.
Action Regarding Panama.
Senator Cullom chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations. today presented
the following concurrent resolution:
THAT the President be requested to COM
municate to the Senate, IL not in his judg-
ment Incompatible with the public inter-
ests. all correspondence and other official
documents relating to the recent revolution
on the Isthmus of Panama"
At Senator Cullom's request the resolu-
ton was referred to the committee on for
eign relations.
Bills introduced in the Senate.
Other public bills were introduced in the
Senate today as follows:
By Mr. DOlltyar repaal bo howl,
ruptcy act
By Mr.. Burton. to establish a service
pension and give to each man who served
for ninety days in the army or navy of the
United States during the civil war a month
ly pension of not less than S12.
By Mr.. Lodge, to amend the immigration
laws, to reorganize the consular service, to
establish library, to erect a monument to
John Paul Jones and to prevent the desc
Grafton of the flag.
By Mr.. Stewart, to provide for the re-
payment of unexpended money deposited
for plating mining claims.
By Mr.. McCumber. to authorize the
purchase of land in Shanghai. China. on
which to erect wharves. warehouses, &c,
for the encouragement of commerce and
to prohibit the adulteration of food.
BY Mr. Fulton, to prohibit the introduce
ton of miSbranded salmon from one
state into another.
By Mr.. Dubois. providing for the cleo
ton of United States senators by direct
vote of the people.
By Mr.. Gamble. for the adjudication of
Indian depredat ton claims.
BY Mr.. Mitchell extending the right Of
suffrage to women and for the election of
senators by direct vote of the people
BY Mr.. Quay. making 1t misdemeanor
for an unauthorized person to wear the in
sigma of Spanish war veterans societies
BY Mr.. Burrows, increasing the salaries
Of rural free delivery carriers to 1900 per
annum.
BY Mr.. Frye. establishing the University
of the United States and to promote the
efficiency of the life saving service.
At las pm. the Senate adjourned