The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-01-26
D0INGS IN CONGRESS
The Senate and House Regularly al
Work-What They are Doing.
Still Examining .smoot.

protests against Senator Reed Smoot
will be brought to a close this week.
The .cross-examination, of the respon-
dent terminated earlier than expected
and several other witnesses for the de-
tense were examined. 1t was the judg-
ment of the committee on elections and
privileges that only a few more wit
nesses would be put on the stand, and
except for some documentary evidence
the investigation may concluded in =
day or two. -'s1
The cross-examination of Senator
Smoot resulted in an absolute refusal
to testify in regard to the Endowment
ceremonies. He also asserted that ft
was not his bushes sto call to ae7
count President Smith, OF the Mormon
Church, Because Of the fact that Smith
Admitted to the committee that he was
living in violation Of the laws of the
land. Three other Witnesses refused
to tell the committee the character az
the Endowment ceremonies. UEatAa
.zAftefstsStffying that President Smith
was supreme as head of the Mormon
Church, Senator Smoot was asked: do
you think the President Of the Church
communicates, directly with G0d-has
direct revelation 2"
IF God desires to speak TO his peo
pie, it would be through the President
OF the Church, is ~g..aara. so
In answering, a question as to his be-
lief in modern prophecy, Senator Smoot
said Men speaking today under the
Inspiration Of the Lord-their counsel
is just as good as that of the prophets
that spoke under inspiration in ancient
days. o, as sag ..4a
> Senator Smoot said he only took the
Endowment ceremony once, but that he
could not say what the ceremony was.
as he did not have any definite recol-
lection Of il. ,ar .gE7rr r.af s-,nl
rs there anything in the ceremony
about ayenging the blood OF the a
tyrs Of the Church?" q -
There Is not" .EEr- .
How long did it take to perform
this ceTemony?""Ig /.
From beginning to end. about three
or four hours"
estate what you are able to recall
of it," iass lEnTalsst asJ9[fs- ST +.
81 would much rather not" s...- .
why notg'
"For conscientious reasons. l made
an oath with my God, not with any
man, not with the President of the
Church, hut I did make a VOW that I
would keep these Endowment cere-
monies sacred, and not reveal them to
anybody, and I rave kept that all nay
life" EglI1a as.lD b.. -,.,..-
WAS there n penalty attached for
the violation of our obligations" =
Il prefer not to say anything fur
ther?" asg1"i flaa
do you remember whether there
was or not2"
Il prefer not t o say anything fur
Their" E'"t .
do you know why the oath Of Sc
cTecy was imposed?
1T is purely a religious ordinance
refers absolutely to a mans hereafter,
and has nothing whatever to do with
anything ether than mans relation to-
his God, and / suppose that it is an
in the Church, and the rule
is that it be not revealed"
do you know how much money Is
paid the Church annually in titheST"
asked Senator Overman. .fsE
Mr.. Smoot responded that the Church
was some years more h a
million, and some years less. b
Church, he said, has capital invested
in industrial institutions. but in nearly
every case a minority OF the stock
Chairman Burrows asked: You
beard the testimony of President
Smith, that he is living in defiance OF
the laws of the land?" ~
YES, sir"
"And that he is also living IN def
ance of The Divine law"
Yes, sir, and l heard the quaEdca-
lions he made"
HAS the Church proceeded against
him because of his violations Of the
= st has not" as sT@ a.5.,3
Has there been any attempt to try
him because he IS living in poIyga-j
coh~abitation?" ~qu ii sre
.There has not" .
did you see him after he testified
before this committee ?"as s4tsas \
The Senator said he had seen the
Fl esident of the Church, both in Wash
and in Utah. after his testi-
mony, and had made no protest to him
his AM Of living
"You have not sought to- bring him
to trial many .manner?" asked the
chairman.
"Do you intend to-" . II a3af .
tI do not" a@% a. sas sas.. -,
Mr.. Smoot admitted he sustained
President Smith, but only as President
OF the Church.
DO you teach polygamy?" lbsisp tfi
81 do not" %. aa.g5yt ~
: do you preach against polygamy or
unlawful cohabitation?"I
81 never have. l do not know why
I should. It is not a tenet OF the faltn-
It has been suspended, and I think it
would not be proper for me TO bring 1t
Would Tax Indian Lands
The considerations of the statehood
bill was continued in the Senate and
Mr.. Stone spoke for two q IN op-
position to it. The proposed retnuneF-
alton to American fur sealers who suf-
tered losses because of their suppress
sion also was debated at some length,
but no action was taken on it. a..
Mr.. Stone proposed an amendment to
the Statehood bill providing that all