New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-16
DENIAL BY DELEGATE CANNON.
HE SAYS HE HAS NOT MARRIED A FIFTH WIFE
HIS OPINION OF THR EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS
POLYGAMY.
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HE SAYS HE HAS NOT MARRIED 4 FIFTH WIFE,
HIS OPINION OF THR EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS
POLYGAMy.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuSE.l
WASHINGr0N, Dee. 15.-To-nght in conversation
with TRIBUNE correspondent respecting the anti
poygamy laws and the bills on that subject intro
duced ia the House to-day by Mr. Willis. of
Michigan, Delegate Cannon. of Utah, said that he
does not believe that those laws ever be made
effective. He declares that the desire TO dis
franchise MormOns is born of a hope among I'M
pecmnions people in Utah that thew viii be able to
control the Offices and disburse the taxes Of Utah If
the scheme of Acknowledgement i, carried out.
Mr.. Cannon denies that he has recently been
married to fifth wife. He says also that il would
be contrary To all precedent for the House OF
Representatives, to take any action toward expeIl-
ing him. If he has offended against the laws, he ~
to be tried by the laws. and not by Congress. He
refers approvingy to the grounds taken ny General
Butler few years ago when it was PROPOSED to ex-
pei several members of the House for their connec-
tion with the Credit MobIier speculation General
Batter then declared that the people of Con-
gessional District might sind known thief TO
Congress if they should Ike. aud that the House
would have no right to expel him. The people OK
Utah elected Mr.. Cannon knowing him to be q
polygamist and that gentleman says thu House has
nothing to do with that fact.
Mr.. Willis has proposed his amendment 10 the
anti-polygamy laws ia order TO meet the present
difficulty of proving polygamOus marriage. Ills
amendment rs in the form Of a section to BE- added
to the bill introduced by Rcpr sentative Young,
OF Ohio. on the 2 INST As amended, the bin pro.
vdcs that no statute of limitations of the United
States shall be bar t. any prosecution ~ any per-
for the crime of bgamy until two years after
the las. act of cUhabitaton between the parties to
any bgamuus marriage. Proof of the actual rite
ceremony Of either marriage II MT TO DO re-
qure,. but it shall be sufficient 10 establish such
lltull In
that the defendant within the time prescribed by
law cohabited with more than one woman, claiming
aud recognizing them contemporaneously as his
wives.
Mr. Cannon thinks that there are grave Consttu-
tional objections To this bill as an tx post facto
measure.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
A PROPOSAL BY MR.. RIvEs PRESENTED To con-
GREss BY SENATOR CONKIING.
GENERAL rREss DisPATCHl
WAeHNGToN, Dec. 15.-scuator Conkling pre-.
seutcd proposal from Franklin Riyes, of Washing
ton, to-day To print and bind the debates Of Con-
gress. together with memorial praying that
the contract be awarded TO him. He offers
to print what is known as The COares-
sional Record under all regulations gov
crning this printing the Government TO
furnish the paper, at the rate of l4iO mills per
printed page of the book edition, and Ia bind tho
same for 90 cents per volume. MIR Rlves asserts
that Congress in 1873 made only temporary pro-
visions for the publication Of its debates at the Gov
eminent Printing Office, and says IL Is manifest from
the provisions of the act authorizing The change that
it was no; the intention of Congress to make per-
msuent transfer. He says lac has the building, ma
chinery presses type etc. thoroughly fitted for the
work in question, and that he is and has been
for the last six years ready To do the work for q
price at least $4,000 less for each Congress than
the real cost of the work at the Government PRINT
ing Office. The proposal has been referred 10 tho