Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-01-13
WITH TIE LAW MAKERS
What The Two Houses of Congress

What The Two houses OF congress
Are Doing
The response of Senator Reed
Smoot. of Utah. to the charges made
against him was presented TO the Sen
ate committee Saturday. II was agreed
that at the regular meeting of the
committee to be held next Saturday
the attorney for Mr.. Smoot ana also
for the petitioners should be heard.
They will be expected to show proce-
dents and authorities and after they
shall have made theis presentation
the committee will decide whether to
GO farther into the matter by calling
witnesses pr dispose of it on the show
ing which will then have been made.
Mr.. Smoot submits in answer to
charges against him the following:
This respondent is advised and
AYERS that but two of the charges
made against him in said protests.
either directly or by Implication. are
such as, If true. could legally affect
his right to hold his seat III the Senate.
These two charges are:
Il. That the respondent is Il poiyg-
amist
~ That, he is bound by some oath
or Obligation which is inconsistent
w.t. the oath required by the consti-
tuti on. which was administered to him
beftlTe he took his seat as Senator"
Bob these charges respondent de-
nies.
AS to ths charges that he is n
poly sar mist the respondent says that
!. sfs,l 10, ,l,.r %
Alpha May Eldrdge. She is still his
wife and is the mother OF all h,s
children. he has never had any other
wife and has never cohabited with any
otheI woman.
"As to the charge that the respond
ent is bound by some oath or obliga-
ton controlling his duty under his
cath as a Senator, the respondent says
that he has never taken such oath. or
in any way assumed any such obliga-
ton He holds himself bound to obey
and uphold the constitution and laws
of the United States. including the
condition in reference to polygamy.
upon which the State of Utah was ad-
mitted into the Union.
THE respondent denies that he Is
one of said alleged self-perpetuatin tinS =
bodies of fifteen men. or that there Is
lowers or members Of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. or
any Of them. accord the right to sail
alleged body to claim supreme au-
| thority, either divinely sanctioned or
! otherwise, to shape the belief or con
| troi the conduct of those under them
| in all or any matters, civil or tenn
poTu or that sail church or such al
! icstd body or any person or body en-
crcises any authority or power TO in
! CulCate or encourage a belief in the
''-Hr''ce OF poivgamY or belief in or
practice Of polygamy or belief 81 -
-.acuice Of polygamous cohabitatiou,
! or that either cCuntenancoS Ur con
nives at any violation of the laws OF
| the State Of Utah or of the United
States and this respondent for himself
| III particular denies that he is one of
said alleged self-perpetuating body of
| fifteen men, or that there is any such
body, or that said church or any part
thereof or person therein inculcatcs
or encourages a belief in the practice
of poygamy or belief in or practice of
/ polygamous cohab:tation. and this re-
spondent denies that he is guilty uf
| polygamous cohabitation, OF that he
| Is a polygamist. or that he ever has
! been polygamist, or that he has ever
| practced polygamous cohabitation.
Mr.. Smoot denied that he has ever
conniyed at any violation of any law
| Of Utah or OF the United States. and
| declares that "since the manifesto OF
| President Wilford Woodruff was is
sued in 1890, neither a belief in. nor
a practice OF polyganly or polygamous
cohabitation has either been taught or
! encouraged"
The House was in session but 10
| minutes Thursday. Mr. HemenwGy.
chairman OF the committee on appro.
| priatiQns. obtained unanimous consent
that that one hour be devoted at the
| opening of Fridays session to the con.
sideration of bill amending the act
appr opriating 100000 for the eradica-
cation of foot and mouth disease
among cattle, so as TO make $3.50. 900
or that amount available to meet the
emergency caused by the Mexican bool
weevil. The bill was favorably report.
| sd today. The House adjouned.