Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-16

tus, a member Of the committee. that
| this body IL not permitted TO inquire
| as To any moral qualification as TO one
| OF its members with view 10 his ex.
| pulslon that no matter what he did
or said before his election the election
purified him?'
Mr. WorthIngtOn replied that such
was his meaning, and he quoted the ac.
ton OF the senate I'm the Roach case.
and the position Of the house In the
Roberts case In support of this view.
In reply 10 n question from Senator
Hopkins as to what would be the effect
II the offense should be Of continuing
character. Mr. Worthlngton admitted
that the senate would have Jurisdiction.
lie also said, replying 10 Senator Beyer-
idge. that II was not intended TO admit
that his client had been guilty of Of
Senator McComas asked whether
there was any one present who appear.
ed for the person who charges Mr..
SmOot with being a polygamist.
No one answered and Mr.. Worthlng-
ton said that II any one did appear 20
support that charge, It must be borne
IN mind that Mr.. Smoot has positively
denied 1t. He referred 70 Mr.. Shoots
answer setting forth the circumstances
OF his marriage which Mr. Worthlng.
ton said Ia the only marriage he has ev.
er contracted.
QUESTION OF oATHs.
Mr.. Worthington referred 10 the
charge that Mr. smoot took an oath to
support the Church In connection with
his election In 1900 as an Apostle OF the
Mormon" Church. The oath taken by
Mr.. Smoot as senator had been declar-
ed, he said, Incompatible with the for
mer oath, and" continued Mr.. Worth
Ington, III any one has proof that this
oath OF allegiance 10 the United States
was taken with mental reservation. let
II he produced. II that charge could
be supported, said he. II would convict
Mr.. Smo0t OF acting a lie and would be
a violation OF the compact between
Utah and the United States before Utah
was admitted into the Union as state.
These charges he argued, demanded
proof, for II IL can be shown that Mr..
SmoOt has furthered a movement 10
promote polyRamy contrary 10 this
compact, then we will say, of course.
thai Mr. Smoot ought to be expelled"
Mr., W0rthington read larg, number
Of court decisions leading up TO the
abandonment Of polygamy and then
read from official church proclama tons
including the manifesto Of 1880 declar.
ing that poygnmy should be abolished. !
lie also read the amnesty proclamation
Of President Harrison and declared
that not only by that proclamation. bur
by acts Of Congress the people OF Utah !
had been absolyed from the charge OF
poygamy by complying with the on
ahIlns act admitting the state to the |
Union,
STATEMENT BY VAN COLT.
Mr.. Van Colt made a statement IN
Senator Shoots behalf He referred To- |
the. act Of the Utah Legislature nulu- !
flying the -polygamy act and no |
confirmed what MIR Tayler had stated, |
that the bill had been vetoed by "A |
Mormon governor, He said Senator
Smoot had nothing 10 do with the pas.
sage Of that bin and should not be
charged with II.
lie Invited the fullest inquiry into |
Senator Shoots life. I'VE throw |
down the bars" he said "and invite |
you 10 investigate his entire career"
The public hearing continued but two |
hours and at It's conclusion the COM !
mlttee went into executive session.
The committee decided 10 receive |
from the attorneys for Mr. smoo, a |
written reply to Nh Tayler's arnl. |
ment This reply is expected to he |
made Monday and Senator Burrows
will convene the committee NJ the ear.
lest time convenient to the members.
From conversation ensuing In the ok.
ccutiyo session, II was made plain that |
the committee viii prosecute thor. |
ough inquiry into the charges against
Mr. Smo0t.