The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-17

Washington, November 12.--Immedi-
ately upon assembling today the Sen
ate plunged into a discussion of the
question of the eligibility of Reed Smoot
of Utah to u seat in the Senate
Mr.. Dubois Qdaho), took issue with
Mr.. Hoar's remarks of yesterday. u
contend he said. that these various
organizations of Christian men and wo-
men have a right to petition the SEN
ate. and that it is their duty to do So.
Of course. we all appreciate that this
is a question which must be determined
by the facts. but it is not an idle ques-
ton, n it is properly before the SEN
ate. It is the same question hat was
involved in the case of the polygamous,
Roberts. for whose u~nseating by the
House of Representatives many petit
tons were filed. If the allegations now
filed with the Committee on Privileges
and Elections can be proven, 1 do not
believe there is a Senator here. who
would vote to have M. Smoot continue
in his seat, but if they are not proven,
L think we should all unite ii asking
him to remain"
M. Hoar said in his remarks yester-
day he had merely. called the ]attertion
Of come of his own constituents to the
fact that they are pointing out to the
Senate the determination of a judicial
question, in regard to which the Sena-
tors are the judges.
Mr.. Hale took the position that the
question of Mr.. Shoots eligibility had
beer improperly raised at this time.
He considered it a very grave and Sc
rious matter, and while, he said, he
appreciated the force of what Mr.. Hoar
had said as to the judicial character Of
the proceeding, he did not quite agree
with hat Senator that in determining
the right of a Senator to his seat, the
Senate should be considered purely as
a u of law. He referred briefly tC
the moral aspects of the Smoot case
and said that grave as they are, they
are not more important than the intru-
sion of a great religions hierarchy like
the Mormon church INTO the politica,
affairs of the country. He suggested tc
the Senate the Importance of not pre-
JUDGING the case.
The Senate adjourned until Monday
THE HOUSE.
Washington, November 12.-Mr
Payne introduced in the House today
the bill to make effective the Cuban re-
ciprocity convention, which without OBJ
lection, was read by title and referred
to the committee on ways and means
Mr.. Payne, having moved to adjourn
Mr.. Williams. CMass.) inquired if he was
ready to a%nnounc the programme OF
the majority.
Mr.. Payne said a meeting of the
Ways and Means Committee would be
called tomorrow inc he hoped to re-
port the bill to the House tomorrow.
Mr.. Thayer, CMasS.) rising to a ques-
ton Of privilege, asked if a member
would be considered derelict ~ his duty
if he would go home to get in his win
ter's wood, with the understanding that
he would return when the six or seven
men who, he said, constitute confreres
would that the meeting to be
DONE.
The speaker suggested that the ques-
ton hardly amounted to a faint assault
upon the dignity of a parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr.. Payne observed that he was about
to request unanimous consent hat the
gentleman from Massachusetts be eX-
cuSed for the remainder of the session.
The House then adjourned