The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1904-01-22
WORK OF CONGRESS
Whist the House and Senate Are
Talking About.
More Smoot Testimony.

attorneys on both sides of the case
involving the right of Senator Smoot
of Utah to occupy his seat. Former
Representative Taylor of Ohio, ap-
peared for some Of the protestants and
T. P. Stephenson for those who are
represented by the Nationl Reform
Association. S. A. Worthington and
Waldemar Van Colt were present in
behalf of Senator Smoot, who also
was in attendance. The first presen-
tation was made by Mr.. Taylor, who
began his argument by saying that
he did not know that any proof would
be presented in support of the charge
that Mr.. Smoot was polygamist Mr..
Taylor said the protestants expected
to prove the following charges:
THAT the Mormon priesthood as
sumes to exercise supreme authority
in all things, temporal and spiritual,
civil and political; that they promul-
gate the doctrine of polygamy without
reservation; that the president of the
Mormon Church and majority of the
twelve apostles now practice poly
gamy and polygamous Capitalization
and some of them have taken poly
gamous wives since the manifesto OF
1890; plural marriage ceremonies have
been performed by the Church and
Mormons have taken plural wives
since that time"
Mr.. Worthington in reply laid down
the general proposition that the Sen.
ate was without jurisdiction of often
ses which may have been committed
before a member in connection with
his election.
do you mean,'' asked Senator Pet
tus, member of the committee, that
this body is not permitted to inquire
as to any moral quality of one of it's
members with view to his expulsion;
that, no matter what he did or said
before his election the election puri-
bed him.
Mr.. Worthington replied that such
was his meaning. In reply to ques-
tion from Senator Hopkins as to what
would be the effect if the offenses
should be of continuing character,
MI. WOI duIulLlCu lndt tAC
Senate would have jurisdiction.
Mr. Van Colt made a statement in
Senator Shoots behalf. He invited
the fullest inquiry into Senator
Shoots life I'VE throw down the
bars" he said, "and invite you to in
vestigate his entire career
Talking Senators.
The Senate required less than min
ute Tuesday to dispose Of the motion
to refer to the committee on postoffices
the various resolutions looking to an
investigation of the Postoffice Depart
ment. The question had been previous
ly debated for hours at time, but
when the motion was put today no Sem
ator manifested any disposition to fur
Their discuss it, and it was adopted
without negative vote. The adoption
of the motion occurred early in the day
and after the passage of half-dozen
bills the Senate returned to the con-
sideration of the Panama question.
Mr.. Quarles spoke for almost two
hours in support of the course of the
administration and was followed by
Mr.. Patterson, who criticised the Presl-
dent course III fduuIlld. MI. Qudllco
declared the revolt of Panama in the
interest of the canal to be the first
movement on the isthmus for the pro-
motion of the rights of civilization for
the past 100 years. Concluding, Mr..
Quarles announced his advocacy OF
sea-leyel canal saying he thought that
such canal should be constructed re-
CARELESS of the time required in con-
struction or the expense to be incur
red
Mr.. Patterson said the secession OF
Panama was an atrocious crime. he
recalled disturbances in the United
States, among them the Chicago strike
of the last decade.
Mr.. Spooner interrupted and said
that the course of President Cleveland
in sending troops to quell the riot had
been condemned by the Democratic
convention of 1896.
Mr.. Daniel took exception to the re-
mark, holding that those who had
taken that view of the platform had