Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-03-02
Joseph Smith, One Of the Seers
of the Mormon Church the
First Witness.
NEGOTIATIONS
PROCEEDING
The Details Connected With the Trans.
fer Of the Panama Canal Property
to Be Settled Within Thirty
Days.

Washington, D. c., March 2.-The
investigation which is to decide wheth
er Senator Reed Smoot of Utah is tt
retain his seat in the United States
Senate and which incidentally defines
the political status of the Mormon
Church, was formally begun today be
fore the Senate committee on privi
leges and elections. Great interest is
attached to the hearing because of the
dual purpose of the inquiry. Other in
vestigations have been directed at GER
tain contested seats in Congress, but
never before has there been inaugu
rated an inquiry as to creeds or pOlit
ical factors to determine whether un.
lawful influence is being exerted in the
political affairs of the nation. Such is
the nature Of the Smoot inquiry and
at the opening session today it was
conceded that the hearing would ex.
tend over several weeks and precipi-
tate contest in which noted legal tai
ent will fight every inch of the way.
President Joseph F. Smith, of the
Mormon Church was the first witness
called. r. W. Taylor. former con-
gressman and one of the attorneys for
the protestants, conducted the exami-
nation. Taylor asked Smith if he was
a prophet, seer and revelator? The
witness said he was $50 sustained"
Further questioning along this line
brought out the statement that he re-
ceived his powers by reason of the po-
sition ne holds in the church. In an
swer to a question, Smith gave a long
list of business enterprises in which
he is interested.
In relation to revelations, the wit
ness said that the church holds that
any elder may receive a revelation for
his guidance. "Then Mr.. Smoot may
receive such a revelation direct from
Cod said Taylor For his own guild
ance 'yes," was the answer. Smith
said that only the revelations to the
president which had been presented
to the church and accepted by the
members were binding upon them. He
was asked what happened to those
who did not believe in inspired revel-
ations? Smith replied, "They un-
church themselves" Senator Hoar
asked the witness: HAS the church
ever rejected any of your revelations ?
Have any revelations of the presidents
been rejected?" Smith answered by a
long explanation during which he did
not answer Hoar directly, but speak
ing of plural marriages said: mot
more than three or four per cent OF
the entire membership of the church
have entered that state, although there
is revelation on plural marriages. All
the rest have abstained from plural
marriages and many thousands have
rejected the principle entirely
Believes in Polygany.
Washington, D. c., March 2.-During
the progress of the Smoot hearing
this afternoon, President Smith stated
that notwithstanding second revela-
ton stopping polygamy, he believed
that the first revelation permitting II
was correct. 81 cannot help my be-
lief" he sid.
Panama Canal Negotiations Proceed
ing
Washington, D. c., March 2.-The
conclusions Of the negotiations for the
title to the Panama canal property is
in sight. Within thirty days, perhaps
in shorter time, the United States
will be in full possession of the prop.
erty and the money consideration Will
have been paid to both the republic OF
Panama and the New Panama com
pany Attorney General Knox had
conference today with the President
at which the whole subject, so far as
the legal phases of it are concerned
was considered and decided. At the
conclusion of the conference, the at
torn " general authorized the follow
ing statement: Il have advised the
President that he is authorized to pay
at once to the Republic of Panama
$4,000, 900. Also that he is authorized
TO nay to the New Panama Canal Com
,pany $40, 100000, which, under thu
agreement between the United States
and that company, we are to pay fO
the property and we have notified th'
canal company that we are ready t.
close the transaction. The details II
connection with the transfer Of the ca
nal company's property should not re
ouire more than thirty days."
Statehood Bills Will BE Acted On
Speedily.
A dispatch to the Globe Democra
from washington says;
Indications point to speedy actiol
on the statehood bill or bills presentet
to the House. It is believed that th'
program is to report the bill Or bills
as may be. and. under a ruling cutting
of amendment and limiting debate
pass them and then pass the measures