The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-01-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
LFrom our Regular Correspondent.J
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. II, 1882


famous institution of polygamy and
to see its political power
destroyed, yet somehow there is a
disposition to handle the subject
rather gingerly. I shall not be
if the present agitation
ends in smoke and inaction, as all
previous attempts have done, 1t
takes something like an earth
quake to inspire Congress to do
its duty in dealing with any great
evil which possesses power and in
flaence. The plan proposed by
Delegate Maginnis of Montana,
appears to be the least violent and
effective Of any suggested SO far.
His proposition is to let Congress
divide the Territory of Utah. in
cooperating the western part with
the State of Nevada, the south
eastern part with the State of Col
orado, and the small northern part
with Idaho and Wyoming. Con-
gress has abundant power to do
this. and it is evident that when it
is done the Mormon power will be
broken. A part of the Mormon
population will then be citizens of
Nevada, and will be there only a
minority of the whole State, aud
part become citizens of Colorado
in minority there. The small re-
mainder will form part Of Wyo-
ming or Idaho. The main portion
of the Mormon population would
thus become citizens of States
which have already established
constitutions and laws, to which
the Mormons would be ameuable.
1t is held that such a division OF
Utah and distribution of its parts
would not only be perfectly legal
an | proper, but would have the
advantage that the new bounda-
ries would be natural instead OF
artificial. The Wasatch Range
which now runs through the ceu-
tire of Utah, would then form the
boundary line between the States
of Colorado and Nevada. Is there
any reason why Utah should not
thus be hlotted out of the map?
The indications at the present
time are that the most importan,
result of Speaker Kiefer's lnfortu-
nate concoction Of the committees
will be a change in the system ol
their selection. It is not i,nprob.
able, from the present temper o.
the House, that Mr.. Kiefer is the
last Speaker who will have the
exercise of so much power, or the
opportunity to abuse it, and that
in the future the committees vii
be made in much the same man
ner they are in the Senate. 1t il
even hinted that the committee.
for this Congress may yet be reor-
ganized; but this / think unlikely
though there is SO. much feelin,
on both sides of the House that ,h,
movement could be carried if prop
perry inauguratcd. Mr.. Orth, VIII,
gave the. Speaker such a cutting re
buke in open session, is not TIL
only Republican who feels out
ragged or who recognizes. the mo
tives and the moving spirit of th'
whole scheme. Mr.. Waite, o
Connecticut, is another old ant
prominent Republican memhe
who mas taken decided exception
to the course Of the Speaker ant
written letter declining to serv,
under the circumstances. Their
are curses loud and deep all along
the line. The arrangement o
Committees is a matter entirel,
within control of the House, aut
it is only by usage and courtes,,
that the Speaker has been hereto
fore given that authority. When
ever majority of the members s
determine, it is in the province O
the House to undo his work an,
. take the matter into their owl
hands. If such action were to b
taken now Mr.. Kiefer could no
complain.
This morning I saw a letter fror
the father OF Clara Louise Kellogg
in answer to a letter of inquiry