Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-20
AGAINST REED SMOoT
Messrs. Perkins and Patterson Define
Positions on Utah Problem.

Messrs. Perkins and Patterson Define
Position. on Utah Problem.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Sin presenting
petitions against Senator Reed Smoot.
signed by thousands of women of Cali
forna and Colorado. Messrs. Perkins and
Patterson took occasion today to define
their positions on the protests against the
Utah senator The former said that re-
ligtous views should not be considered in
passing upon the qualifications of the
senator and that his honesty and the ST.
tributes that command confidence and re-
spect should be considered above all else.
Mr.. Patterson thought there were great
constitutional questions to be considered
and said that these would govern his
vote The petitioners had requested these
senators to make some remarks in present
ing the prayers.
Discussion of the pure food hill occupied
practically all OF the day. The speakers
were Mr. Hepburn, who has charge OF
the bill Senator Foraker. who presented
a number OF amendments desired by liquor
interests Mr.. Money. in favor of his
substitute and Mr.. McCumber. An order
was made to devote time tomorrow and
Wednesday to the consideration of amend
ments under the ten-minute rule and
begin voting at o'clock on Wednesday.
When the senate convened today Mr.
Warren presented SIS letters from railroad
employees in Wyoming praying against the
enactment of railroad rate legislation as
proposed by the Esch-Townsend bill of last
session on the ground that II would tend
TO a reduction of wages.
Mr.. Perkins presented a petition against
Reed Smoot of Utah retaining his seat
Al
forria The petitioners asked the Cali
fornia senator to accompany the petition
with a few remarks defining his position.
In carrying out this request MIR. Perkins
said II was the duty OF senator to sit as
Juror on the conduct OF a colleague and
that the chief qualifications TO determine
the members eligibility was that he
should be a good citizen, an honest man, of
good character. possessing all the at
tributes that command the confidence and
respect of his fellow men. Whatever his
private belief, said Mr. Perkins religious
matters should have no weight in dis
qualifying a member from occupying the
high position OF senator OF the United
States Mr.. Perkins spoke against retrac-
ing our steps to a period when religious
war devastated the earth. He said that
our government was built ON freedom Of
conscience and unquestioned individuality
of expression concerning religious belief
and no action should be taken which would
in the slightest degree abridge this free
dom.
Mr.. Patterson presented petition
against Mr.. Smoot, signed by several thou
sand Colorado women, and said that great
constitutional questions were involved. and
In casting his vote he intended to be gov
erned by the constitutional rights of the
person against whom the proceedings were
pending.
Mr.. Hale presented a conference report
on the urgent deficiency appropriation bill,
which was adopted without debate
Averse reports from the committee on
Indian affairs were presented by Mr.. Du-
bois on bills for the relief Of the Chickasaw
nation, the Cherokee tribe. the Chocktaw
and the Creek tribe OF Indians and provid-
ing for winding up the affairs OF the flve
civilized tribes of Indians. All OF these
bills were indefinitely postponed
During the discussion OF the pure food