Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-02-23

"A comparison WITH the pfeSent repre-
sentation shows that the states of Maine,
New Hampshire and Vermont each lose
one Representative. OF the other thirty
five states thirteen remain unchanged
and twenty-five gain members as fol-
lows: Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Ken
lucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mis-
souri,, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
and Wisconsin, each one; California,
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska,
and South Carolina, each two; Kansas
four, and Texas five. 1t will be seen
that the New England states are thus
forced to submit to net loss of two
members; the middle states, including
Ohio, gain three; the Western, with
Missouri, gain fifteen; the Pacific two
and the Southern fourteen. OF this in
crease of thirty-two members, eight
states west of the Mississippi carry off
nineteen. As whole the strongly Re-
publican states gain the most by the
new distribution, but this is only justice
to the growth of the great Northwest.
The gains in South Carolina, Texas,
Mississippi, Georgia and Missouri, are
in some degree an offset to the Republi-
can features of the measure, but nobody
knows how long those states can be held
by the Democracy in the face of the in
dependent and anti-Bourbon move
ments, that are slowly and surely spread
ing.
NO MORE POLYGAMY.
Senator Edmund S bill for the political
reconstruction of Utah Territory in such
a manner as to take the control of the
government out of the hands of the Nor
mons, and render it possible to obtain
conviction of polygamist in the courts;
has passed the Senate by decisive ma
jority. The bill makes the punishment
of bigamy or polygamy in the territories
a fine of not more than $500 and inn
prisonment for not more than five years;
makes cohabitation with more than one
woman punishable by fine of not more
than $500 and Imprisonment for not less
than six months; disqualifies such often
der from jury duty; legitimatizes the
issue of polygamous marriages IL born
prior to January |, 1888; DISTINGUISHES
polygamists, aud denies them the right
Of holding office, and declares all cleo
tive offices in Utah vacant, and provides
for q commission of five persons, to be
appointed by the President ard confirm
ed by the Senate, who shall have the
sole conduct of elections until otE erwise
ordered. To carry out the objects OF
the new law, further the President is
authorized to issue amnesty to those who
forsake the polygamic connection, which
will have the effect of restoring them to
the full privileges of American citizen
ship In this respect. the bill grants
immunity for the past upon condition OF
practical repentance and this ameliorat-
ing clause is expected to have much in
fiuenee with the more sensible class of
Mormons. 1t is hardly probable that
the bill will meet with any serious
opposition in the House.
DECREASING THE DEBT.
Sixteen years ago the U. S Treasury,
in balancing its books, found itself in
debt, beyond the amount of its cash on
hand, the enormous sum of 2,775, 236,
l73 1t had taken rank among the
heaviest debt burdcned nations of the
world. Only recently Treasurer Gilfill-
an announced iAat he found on making
up his accounts that the outstanding
liabilities of the government, in excess
of the cash on hand to apply on them.
to be Lies, 491,71Z. This shows de-
crease in the sixteen years of over one
thousand million dollars, or more than
thirty-six per cent. of the original debt.
But this is not all. The decrease of the
interest burden has been relatively much
greater which has been expected BY the
several schemes of refunding at low rate
of interest. Sixteen years ago the
funded de- tof Great Britain was about
$500, 100000. 1t is now reduced to
about 3, $50, 600, 900, being a decrease
of three hundred and fourteen millions,
or conside rably less than one-third the
amount OF reduction in the principal Of
the United States debt during the same
period. Bear in mind, while the funded
debt has been reduced this amount il
Great Britain, there has been a Jump il
the aggregate of unfunded debt there o.
near . hundred million dollars So tha