New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-10
A FAIR ELEC YION FOR UTAH.

WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS DONE.
REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF HE INTERIOR
PREPARING FOR THE WORK OF REGISTRATION.
WAsHNGTON, Sept. 9.-Ihe following re-
port from the Utah Commission has been received at the
Interior Department:
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Auc 81. 1882.
Hon, H. ". TELLER, secretary Of The Interior, VdSh'ng
DEAR SIR: The Commission appointed by the Presi-
dent under the ninth section Of An act 10 amend
tion 53 the Revised statutes or the Uni ed states
III reference ~ 0gamy, anu Tor otler luIpos.s' dp-
proved March -, l~S2, respectfully report: That all
the members of the Comnss on met by request o! the
CHAIRMAN an the Cly OF hlca-o on ihe 'lh o. JLl'
l-S AID remained III session -cNcral days. Jnmes =
Fcjtlgrew, OF Arkansas, nem'er Of he Commission.
was appointed npoIa} secretary AIter c%lsutio
and tXmuI alton and consideration II the laws VI TIE
United state, and tie Territory OF Utah pertaining to
our duties, ID was CcteiAhued mat A"tHlh4 c"ud nc
done regard to The registration or voters and the
duct OF any election ia Ctan, until the necessary pro
prauon bills then pending IN CONGRESS should 'e passed
Accordingly the commission adjourned 10 meet al
Omaha, NcD., tie LON Gay OF August, where the
Comhlsr oheis mcl' ana Oh we lo.toE lH- Jay com
ncnceu their journey 10 hls cy arriving mere on the
he'd Tor the transaction OF business Arnur
l. Thomas, secretary Of the Territory, and onico
more sessions have been neid each day since.
strong disposition with some OF the nOn-)Ormon eli
against preparing for the election or Delegate
III Cougr manifested itself before the OF prepare
ton therefor was commenced; Dut upon investigation
10 tine cond on 81 aH~fs ana an examination IS to
the tho ana the duty 81 the Commission
hereunder, the following preamble aud Resolution
nhe,eas II Is provided by the Revised staa o. the
Uuitcu states, sccuOu l,~6-, tnat every Territory shall
s,ut-Iyes the United States ana II il further pIO
yIed section 25l that election sinai be held ia all
the first NJ Jnday in November, lsS@, therefore
HesOeed TnaI IN order 10 prepare for such election
Commission viii proceed forthwith TO appoint rcs ra
Tin ofcers 10 revise tue registration Isr o,S on me- ~
the office OF the cerks Of each OF the counties
TIE manner required 10y law
ia pursuance TINS resolution the commission pro-
QclDcrdtlOu
rules ana regulations " Tor The guidance OF tHc .ls
trafon and elecdou officers 10 be appointed Tis was
framing rules ana regulaila governing gls
iI, OF voters aud tue conduct u The election 10 co
for 10 the principles and requirement the act Of
Congress well as tAe laws Oh tie Territory. We ILL
close printed copy tue together W.T.
u aud.,v4ts, etc, prOyIGe b. tnc COluulssion.
Inc VI he appOiatIuent OF REGISTRATION officers
for me several coucs IA tue Territory was Ihcn aaen
up and county has been duyappo and
commissioned. In al -ou 10 these adcpay assistant
IN eacn WONG precinct in the IerrtOry Will be In
Inedately appointed. our selections have ANA must
necessarily DC InIucnced III "a considerable degree by
.u..cs,Ions and recommendations Of leading ciIzens
mere me Smbarl lI this direction nave been
great but Commission nave cudcayo rcd
vcry pest available M rejecting Of course al. per
sons VINO ineligible under tne Jaw.
present indications IL appears that that class of
persons deprived OF TIE rlnt of suffrage ny the
act o. Congress Will not attrupt register OF vOle.
VIII number male ana female prooaniy ten thou-
SAM voters Many o. lac non Sloi mons nave hitherto
Ieiralued from voting bat Is believed
that at the November election they viii
cds. much larger vote tnan at a-y time
heretofore However We business or the Commission
as understood 10y members thereof relates Tue
Quesuons oil parties or Candidates Dut to securing
50 lar as possible ihr registration AMI IlIpariay
conducted election under the law.
As uelUre suggested, the Commission have encountered
many rass.neuts anu computations. Opposi-
uou made al tAe Outset.y some nOnMormOAs OF re.
slccaJlty ana hhdcncc against hOidlng the regular
eccdJn Deegac III Congress required by law In
November next, was an unp easlnt feature OF the
situation. Bat Jherc dOea not appear 10 De under
.aw any discretion wh-tever for the Commission.
Iue Jaw demanded election. Inc poo
pie OF the Territory were Clearly
l,led representation IN Congress II the
could secured through due Observance Of te resrc-
Tone imposed relation 10 bigamy ana polygany. We
dG MOI see how We could excuse onissi0n II being
present and prepared 70 proceed with The work ssgned
is we should attempt 10 perform THIS manifest
dutv: aud 50 II decided to proceed. IL not
deemed advisable, even II the power in Tie Com
mission concerning which there GouOt. 10
uence de n0c0 isI4tion the voters OF tue Tern
tory; bus very careful consideration II was de
cded 10 order revision Of the existing registration
Isis i'm Scpieuber required by the Territorial law APP
plying the same the governing principles OF ,he Id
We TANK the regularity of this proceeding can
not be questioned Us effectiveness viii he equal
L, an entirely new registration, and, we believe,
The results OF the election viii demonstrate. the
preparation Of the rules aud regulations govern
registration and the conduct OF election before
stated the labor OF assnilatins or Cougress and
tAe local election law was tedious and percxInC, IN
voying much greater responsibility Agreeable
10 ne Commission to assume but accomplish
suits required by the provisions OF section Of the
Edmunds act II became necessary al the powers
later embarrassment came in the form OF a demand
part OF certain nOnMonOn citizens VI high char
acer that the Commission should jurisdiction
and decide the local statute authorizing women
10 vote 10 be Illegal and vold We concluded
mat II was not competent for the Commission
TO repeal modify that statute Ia tie
manner suggested; that the principle female SUI
fraee is IL respect IN conflict The purpose Of the
Ednunds aw, and, therefore. that the Commission mad
nothing whatever 70 dc with the subject moreover We
found on investigation that this statute had been in
force for twelve years without being aoudcdted in the
courts Of the Territory or disturbed by Congress-.
In conclusion permit us 70 say that believe the
suits to be reached through the careful repatriation
already insured aud the impartial election which can
hardly fail follow will be satisfactory 10 tle Govern
ment and the country.
In closing thus report 1t due TO the Territorial sccre
tarv vino fticIO secretary OF the commissiOn Mr.
Artnur L. Thomas. say that the commission has re
ceived from vauab assistance in s work particu-
larry IN the matter selection registration and
other officers Very respectfully, obeaent servants
ALEXANDER RAMSEY.
A. >. PADDOCK,
g. l. GODFREY,
A. Is. (AKLrnN.