The San Francisco call., 1904-04-24
Investigation of Charges
Against the Mormon Sena-
tor From Utah Will Be
Continued to Next Session
POWERS rs AGAIN
ON WITNESS STAND
Jurist Resumes His Testi-
mony Concerning the Part
Taken by the Church in
the Field of Politics
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL BUREAU, HOTEL BARTON,
WASHINGTON, April 23.-with only
one more important witness to be
heard in the case of Senator Reed
Smoot, tentative plans were made to-
day by the Committee on Privileges
and Elections to postpone action and
carry the final decision over to the next
session of Congress. A resolution will
be reported to the Senate, and adopted,
providing for continuation of the
hearing by a full committee or sub
committee. The same authority to
summon witnesses and take testimony
now lodged in the committee will be
given in the new resolution, with the
additional provision that the committee
may take testimony wherever it sees
fit. This means that it will go to Salt
Lake, investigate on the spot and make
another attempt to obtain the evidence
of witnesses now said to be in hiding.
Among those most certain to go to
Salt Lake the coming summer are Sen
ator Burrows, chairman of the commit
tee, and Senator Dubois of Idaho, lead
ing member of the minority, who is
very deeply interested in the Mormon
question and firm in his opposition TO
Smoot, on account of conditions in his
own State.
Judge Powers admitted that Smoot
had been prominent in working for Re
publicanism before politics in Utah di-
vided on party lines. 1t was brought
out that Judge Powers was chairman
of the committee which nominated
Brigham Roberts and Moses Thatcher,
both of whom were Mormons. The wit
ness said the nominations were the re-
suit of the ability of both men and
their courage in standing out against
the political rule of the church The
witness said he had not been on the
stump for Roberts and defended him.
Continuing, he said to Vancott: 81 do
not think l was any more culpable
than you were, who, L understand,
went on the. stump and supported the
ticket without mentioning Roberts
name"
The opposing candidate was Eldridge,
another Mormon, but not polygamist
Judge Powers said, however, that the
distinction was without a difference,
as Eldridge connived at, aided and
abetted polygamy. The cross-examina-
tion was concluded, but the witness
was requested to remain in the city
until Monday, to which time the COM
mittee adjourned.
POWERS ON STAND.
When the investigation in the Smoot
case opened to-day, Judge o. W.
Powers was again called to the stand
He read a petition prepared by sup
porters of Moses Thatcher for Senator,
addressed to the Senate of the United
States, alleging that church influence
had been used in the election, and ask
ing for an investigation. Another in
stance of church interference had been
shown, he said, in the Mayoralty con-
test at Provo, when Reed Smoot fa-
vored the candidacy of George Souther-
land. The witness said Smoot was
held in disfavor with the church and
charged with going to the Liberal
party.
Senator Overman asked if women
We're elected to the Legislature in
Utah. The witness answered in the af-
firma tive and said a woman was chair
man of the Judiciary Committee of the
House in the State Legislature which
elected Smoot Senator.
Did she. vote for Smooth" asked