The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-13
REED SMOOT
UNDER FIRE
Question Of His Eligibility to
Seat in Senate is Discussed
in That Body.
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA
Mr.. Payne Introduces Bill in
the House Making Effective
the Treaty Negotiated.
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA
tBy Associated Press,

WASHINGTON. Nov. 12-Imnediately
upon assembling to-day. the Senate
plunged into discussion Of the ques-
ton OF the eligibility OF Reed smoot,
OF Utah, to seat In the Senate.
Mr.. Dubois (1daho). took Issue with Mr..
Hoars remarks of yesterday. II contend"
he said. that these various organizations
OF Christian men and women have q right
to petition the Senate and that 1t is their
duty to do 60 OF course. we all appreciate
that this is a judicial question. which
must be determined BY the facts, but It
Is not an idle question. and 1t is properly
before the Senate. 1t is the Same Ques-
ton that was involved In tho case OF tire
polygamous Roberts. for wfose unseat.ng
by tho House Of Representatives many
petitions were flied.
III tho allegations now on file with
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions can be proven, do not believe
there Is Senator here, who would vote
to have Mr.. smoot continue In his seat.
but II they ara not proven. think we
should all unite In asking him to remain"
Mr. Hoar said that in his remarks yes
tarday, he had merely called the attent on
of some Of his own constituents to the
fact that they are pointing out to the
Senate the determination Of judicial
question IN regard to which the Senator'S
are the judges.
question OF Mr.. Shoots eligibility had
been improperly raised at this time He
considered it very grave and serious
matter. and while. he said he had appre-
ciated the force of what Mr.. Hoar had
said as to the judicial character OF the
proceeding, he did not quite agree with
that in determining the right Of Senator
to his seat the Senate should be
considered purify as court Of
law. He referred briefly to the moral
aspects of the Smoot case. and said that
grave as they are. they are not more
important than "the intrusion OF great
religious hierarchy like the Mormon
Church in the political affairs OF the
country" He suggested to tie Senate the
importance OF not preJudging the case.
The Senate adjourned until Monday.
The House.
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, Nov. l2.-AIr. Payne
introduced in the House to-day the bill
to make effective the Cuban reciprocity
convention, which. without objection. was
nead by title and referred Ito the Com
ulittee on Ways ard Means
Mr.. Payne, having moved to adjourn,
Mr. Williams tMlsslssippD, inquired II he
was ready to announce the programme Of
the majority. Mr.. Payne cid meeting
or tho Ways and Means Committee would
be called tomorrow, and he hoped to
report the bill to the House Tomorrow.
Mr. Thayer (Hassachusetts) rising to
n question OF privilege, asked II mem
Der would be considered derelict In his
duty II he would go home to get in his
winters wood, with the understanding
that ne would return when the six or
seven men, who he said. constitute Con-
gress should announce that something
was to DO done7
The Speaker suggested that the 0u',s-
ton hardly amounted to faint assault
upon the dignity OF parliamentary In.
curry
Mr. Payne observed that he was about
to request unanimous consent that tho
gent!sman from Massachusetts be ex-
cused for the remainder Of the session.
The House then adjourned.