New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-15
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
THE ANTI-POLYGAMY BILL PASSED.
my rr1 Rcn .pu To TILE 1RInrSEI

WASHINGTON, March 14.-At last the Democrats
| IN both branches of Congress have been compelled
| to place themselves on record on the question,
| Shall the laws against polygamy be moro
| effective ~ The demand which they made yeser-
day for opportunity to offer amendments and dis
cuss them was granted to-day by the majority.
But after the opportunity sought by the Democrats
had been accorded, it was apparent that they had
neither any substantial amendments to offcr-except
those to emasculate the bill-nor any good reasons
to offer against the measure itself Mr.. Mills. OF
Texas, moved to strike out section g. which dSfran-
chises and disqualifies for holding Office persons
guilty of polygamy, and section g. which provides
new election machinery for Utah Mr. House. of
Tennessee, and some other Democrats were very
anxious that the vote on striking out those two
sections should be taken by yeas and nays 50 that
we can put ourselves on the record" The Republi-
cans were very willing to allow this record" to he
| made and the Democrats got sick of their bargain
before the final vote was taken, although they were
compelled to toe the mark The first vote was on
| the motion TO strike ont section o. Eighty-nne
Democrats mustered courage to vote for tins, ana
only twelve voted against it. The vote on striking
out section was not taken until after discussion
had closed.
In the course of the debate n number of Democrats
found an opportunity to declare with great vehe-
mcncc that they were much opposed to polygamy
as any body but they could not support this paric-
nlar bill This is the old Democratic song-they are
in favor Of the suppression of polygamy but opposed
| to the enactment enforcement OF laws Tor that
purpose. Some of the Democratic speakers also felt
worried about the Cannon case and declared int
one of the purposes of the friends of the bill was to
consummate the Outrage upon free government" "
of keeping Cannon out of Congress That gentle
man. who hovered about the Democrat cloak-rooln
all day until the bill was passed, evidently felt
worried also.
As soon as the discussion closed and vote was to
| be taken on the motion to strike ont tho dis-
| franchisng and dIsqualifying section, 1t became
| apparent that the Democratic anxiety TO make
record y had vanished. The roll called, how
| ever. and the motion was defeated by vote of 40
TO 1893 The affirmative votes were ALL except that
! of Jones of Texas east by Democrats An analysis
| of the NEGATIVE vote shows that it was east by
| four Northern and 3S Southern lnclAorrS
| OF the 65 Democratic votes for thc oilI
| 80 cana from the Southern and 33 from the
| Northern States. As soon as the result was an
nounccd cx-dclegates Hooper and Cannon, OF tan
| who had been deeply interested spectators OF mo
proceedings. left the House in company. apparently
The first practical result of the new aw-for there
is no reason to doubt that the bill VIII receive the
prompt approval of President Arthur-will be to de-
| stroy any chance that Cannon may have had TO Sc
| cure a seat in the XLVIIth Congress; Some or TIE
! best lawyers IN the House ho!q !hat Nm nm
non NOT having been indUctcd into Oihce,
NH now be excluded under tho new law.
Mr. Campbell, the Gentle contGsantf f from Ctai t;,I
was asked tonight what he hoped for from tln Dill
lie said that while be was greatly pleased with the
passTgc of thc bill. he was very sure that more
| legislation would be necessary before II can be
| made effective. Judge McBride, Mr.. CampbclPs at
| torncy. was asked if he Thought the Jaw cond he
executed. and said he thought it could but that ne
did not think its execution would take the Territory
| from the hands of the MOrmOrS and put II IN the
! lands of the Gcuti!es. The Commission, he s2ld,
| viii DOUBTLESS admit the competency of many Nor,
mons ,yLo are not polygamSts TO vote aud 70 hcld
o3ircs and the most that can be effected viii he TO
| sccnre a Legisllturc with Gentle minority OF per-
han, oUe-third. The MOrm0ns, even where they are
| moi polygamists, are all mlcr control OF the
| ChnrrhEthe most savish cOutcol-lnd the GentlleS
| will not make the Territorial laws.