The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-14
THE SM0OT
INVESTIGATION
Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections Meets Saturday.
IMMENSE MASS OF PETITIONS
Citizens of Forty states Have Pre-
tested Against Seating Utah
Senator = Wood Inquiry
Continued.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE session Of
the senate lasted only thirty min-
utes. After the completion Of the rOu-
tine business the Cuban bill was laid
before the senate, but no one appeared
ready TO speak on it. Mr.. Hale then
moved an adjournment, and the motion
prevailed.
Previous to the adjournment a mum.
Der Of bills were introduced and re.
ports presented, and Mr.. Hoar gave
notice that as soon as practicable after
the disposition OF the Cuban bill he
would call up his resolution requesting
information from the president con.
corning the conditions under which the
independence Of Panama was recog
nized.
Chairman Burrows of the senate com,
mittee on privileges and elections has
called meeting of the committee foi
Saturday at II o'clock to consider
whether any action shall be taken on
the protests and petitions for the ex.
pulsion Of Senator Reed smoot Of
Utah. There is an immense mass OF
petitions, coming from forty different
states.
Thorough investigation.
That a thorough investigation Of the
subject will be made by the COMMITTEES
now appears to be beyond doubt. BY
those who are pressing the investiga
ton 1t is said it VIII be more compre
hensive and searching than any similar
inquiry has ever been. An effort will
be made to ascertain accurately the at
titude Of the Mormon church toward
the government Of the United States
and to learn whether or not a member
Of that organization is bound by any
pledge or oath the taking Of which ia
incompatible with his oath as senator
Of the United States.
1t is believed by some at least Of
those who are opposing Senator Smoot
that any effort made to prove he is q
polygamist would result in failure, and
while that point cannot be said to have
been abandoned absolutely it is quite
cartain the opposition will concentrate
its endeavors to prove that the position
he holds in the Mormon church is in.
compatible with the oath Of allegiance
he has taken to the United statea.
That proof must be ample, In the opiR-
ion Of senator's, before he can be un-
seated. Asrto the ability of the oppo.
sition to Senator Smoot TO establish
such a proposition there Is a wide di.
vergence Of opinion among senators,
but there is a pretty general agreement
that If 1t should be established it's re.
suit would be the unseating Of thu
Utah senator
Wood and BeIIairs Again.
The senate committee on military az.
fairs recalled Colonel Charles S. Diehl,
assistant general manager Of the Asso-
ciated Press, who submitted letters to
verify dates concerning the request OF
General Wood for the retention Of ID.
g. Bellairs as correspondent Of the AS.
sociated Press at Havana.
Colonel Diehi said that Bellairs had
gone to Cuba in July, 1901. In ssptem.
Der the Associated Press received infor
nation rejecting upon Bellairs, and he
was cabled TO return to America. In
October General Wood called at the of.
flee Of the Associated Press and made a
statement that in his judgment the re.
ports about Bellairs were unfounded
Beliairs was then cabied to remain, but
subsequently when additional informa
ton concerning him was received he
was dismissed.
w hen the house convened, Mr. Van
Voorhis (0), for the committee on ap
preparations, reported the pension ap-
preparation bill. In reply to Mr.. Payne,
he said it was the purpose Of the com.
mittee to have full debate on the bill.
1t carries total of S13S, 150, 100 which
is $1,000 less than the estimates sub.
mitted. The bin carries $1,697, 500 less
than was appropriated for pensions
last year
Mr. Lamar Dem, Fla.), rising to a
question Of privilege, after announcing
that he would offer a resolution i'm
which would be embodied joint reso.
luton Of the Florida legislature, said:
I'm pursuance of that joint resolu-
ton, desire to impeach Charles
Swayne, judge of the United States
district court for the northern district
Of Florida, with high crimes and mis-
demeanors."
The Lamar resolution authorizes the
judiciary committee to send for per
sons and papers and to do other things
\ essential to the investigation Of the
/ charges against Judge Swayne.
( The resolution was adopted
Countess Russell Gets Divorce.
/ London, Dec. 11-Half an hours
| herring in the divorce court sufficed to
secure for Countess Mabel Russell, who
sued her husband, William Brown a
/ former coachman. for divorce, a decree