Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-06
THE MORMON PROBLEM.
EFFECT OF THE EDMUNDs ACT

EFFECT OF THE EDMUNDS ACT.
Satisfactory so far as Tried-Suggestion
of the Commission as to Roofing Ont
Polygamy - Deadlock Between New
and Old Officials-An Appeal to the
Courts.
AsHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The Utah Com
mission, in their report to the Secretary
OF the Interior, dated November l., 1882,
detailing the results of their labors in the
territory, say: ''The anomalous condi-
tion OF this country and its people,
together with the inherent difficulty of
adjusting the local laws to the act of Con-
gress' are such that they imposed on uo
great care and deliberation, lest on the
one hand we should go beyond the limits
of the law, or on the other hand fall short
of the vigorous and effective dis
charge of our duties. We were
obliged to construe for ourselves.
The commission did not construe the
spirit of the act forbidding polvgamists
and bigamists from voting only to affect
those who were actually in pOlvgamv at
that time, for such construction would
have been perfect nullity, and they add
ed such regulations as seemed desirable
to carry out the objects of the act.
The commission recommends that mar
rage by law be enacted of Congress, which
would form an auxiliary i'm the suppress
sion OF polygamy. This law should declare
all future marriages in Utah null and
Noid unless contracted and evidenced in
the manner provided by the act. Certain
places should be designated for all mar
rlages, which should be witnessed by Ger
tam persons ana registered in specific
public offices so as to make the proof of
marriage morally certain. The partipS
and witnesses should be required 70 make
their atfidavits against pOlygamy.
Another suggestion is that the marriage
may be s0lemnized in private. but with
like guarantees of registration. affidayits
witnesses, etc. In either case appropri-
ate penalties should be provided for the
violation Of the act. The commission saw
that owing to the peculiar state of affairs
IN Utah Territory the law allowing
women the right of suffrage is
an obstruction to the speedy solution of
the ''veXed question:" and should be re-
pealed or annuled by Congress.
10 ODVlate difficulty in proving the first
legal marriage, the commission recon-
mends that Congress declare the first or
legal wife competent witness in such
cases, The commission say they have
not time to fully test the operation of the
cess in excluding polygamists from the
exercise Of suffrage, and they are of
opinion that the steady and continued en-
torcement of the law will place pOIygamv
IN condition of gradual extinction.
The Commissioners notice as an encour-
aging sign that many of the ''liheraID
meetings have been largely attended by
the MOrmons, and that these meetings
nave been characterized bV good order
and good humor. They have no inclina-
ton III theirrepOFt to advise Congressional
legislation of radical character. unless
upon further observation and experience
its necessity shall be demonstrated.
In conclusion, the report says, after
counselling moderation: "If, however.
the next session of the legislative assem-
bly, elected under the act of Congress
snail tall to respopd to the will Of the
nation, Congress should have no hesitation
IN using extraordinary measures to COM
pei the people OF this Territory to obey the
laws of the land"
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, Dee. 5.-The
Governor having made appointments of
those municipal officers who would have
Deen elected last August but for the Ed
munds' bill the present incumbents of
those oilces refused to turn them over TO the
Governors appOintees in all cases but one.
lhe three District Courts of the Terri
tory have already ruled on applications
for mandamus, Judge Hunter has de
cided that the pleadings were insufficien
and a. amended complaint has since be,
hled. Judge Emerson virtually
cldes that the complainant is
tilted to office, but has gran
stay of proceedings, and an appeal /
been taken, which will he argued at
January term Of the Territorial Supren
Court, Judge Swiss decided that ma
damus is the proper remedy, ana that +.
offices were vacated by the lapse of the
election. The Governor was therefore au-
of proceedings, pending an appeal, will
be argued,