, 1882-09-16


tiers ana condnc. of the election, IL eJa-
form with the principles Of the require
menis Of the act OF Congress as vel as
the Law OF the territory. We
enclose a printed copy OF the same, to-
gethar with the forms of afidavits, etc,
provided by the commission. The matter
of appointment of registration officers for
the several counties IN the territory WAS
then taken up and one for each couniy
has been duly appointed aud commission-
ed In addition TO these deputy or as
sistaat in each voting precinct Of the ter
ritory viii he Immediately appointed by
cur selection, and must necessarily te
influenced IN considerable degree IS sug
sestiOus and Recommendations cf leading
c::izans here Embarrassmenis In ibis
direction have been great. but TIE com.
mission have endeavoEed TO secure the
very hes. available men, raieciins, 81
course. al persons who are ineiigrple un-
der the lIw From present indications,
II appear. tns cisss OF persous who axe de-
rived of :he righ. Of suffrage by aci of
Congress, will not atteup. 20 register or
vo:e. These VIII number, male and e.
male, probably 1900 voters. Many of
the nou-Mormons have hitherto refraired
from voting, but il is believed AZ the No
vember election they viii cast larger
vote than before. However, the business
Of the commission, as understood by mem
bers Thereof. relates not 10 questions -
parties nor candidates, but 70 securing as
lar as possible, fair registration and i'm
partially conducted election. under the
law. As before suggested the commission
have removed many elnbarrassments ami
complications. The opposition made az
Tie outset by some non-Mormons If re-
s0ectihiiity AID influence, against holding
a regular election OF delegate IN Congress
rs per bylaw, in November next, WAS an
unpleasant feature of the si,u:tion, but
there does not appear 10 be, under the
law, any discretion Whatever FOR the com
| mission. The Law demands an election
by the people Of the territory, who we're
! clearly entitled TO representation in Cen
gress. If TIE same could b. secured
| through due observance OF The restrictions
| imposed in relation 70 b!gamy and poiyg
amy, re did not see how We could excuse
the omission Of being pre- sent and prepared
| 10 proceed with the work asst igned US We
should not even attempt to perform TINS
| manifest dirty, and so 1t vas decided 10
| rroceed. Il was not deemed advisable,
even if the power was In the commission,
| concerning when there is some douot, %
commence new registration Of the voters
of the territory, but after very careful!
consideration, It was decided that revision
O: the existing registration lists in Sep
! tember rs required by the territorial lar
applied to the same governing pr!ncipis
Of the Edmund act We think the reea-
| hrity Of this act cannot he questioned.
| It's eTgciiveness will be equal To m entire
| l. new registration, aud we beIeVe the
| results Of the election VII So demonstrate;
F! but IN preparation OF rules and regulations
! to govern registration and the Conduct 81
the election as before stated, the labor oi
. asz;mi!ating the act Of Congress and local
election law WIS tedious and parpiexing,
involving much greater responsibility thaa
vas agreeable to the commission 70 a.
sum- Put To accomplish the results -,
| cured by section 5 Of the EGmrnds acs.
! i became Necessary 10 Use all powers
| conferred. La:terly embarrassment came
| in the form of q demand on the part u'
/! certain Mormon citizens of high character,
| that the commission should assume iCrls'
! diction and decide the local stature au
f! thorizirg women to vote to lie Illegal. y d
conclude that /. was not competent fl
the commission to repeal or modify that
! statute in the manner suggested: that the
principle of female suiierage is in TO re.
| Spect i'll CanlliCC with the purpose nj tn
! EimuniS law and therefore that the CON
| the subject. Moreover, We found On -
! ves:igation, that this statute had been IT
| force twelve years without being adj l.
| cated in the courts Of the territory or de
! turbed b. cougress. Ia conclusion. per
nit Us 10 say. We believe the results - b,
already ensued snd 81 impartial -ei6:'tod
which can hardly fail 20 fcliow, VIII be sat
(; isfactory 10 the government. AID III
! country.
| In closing his report Il is due to the Ter
Uitoriai secretary. who il ex-oiicio secIo
;ary al fac corn.issiy Il, Ar;hur L. Thomas
20 gay the commission has received from
! him vg1uahla assistance in lis v0rS, parric
| rIlarir N rhe matter of selection cf regis
ration and other officers. Very respect,
fully your cbediart servants,
iSIaEed) ALEXANDER RAGSLT,
\ s. P.nDocg,
Il. L. GODFREY,
! 4. y. CARLTON,
! ] r PETrIGREw.