The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-31
Report of the Utah Commission.

Az HDONAOkSNAy va 49,
making q skeleton of the former
legislation of Congress in relation t.
bigamy or p.lygaIny, they say thu
duties of the Co nmission relate
, ouly O matters of registration and
election and eligibility to6fice, while
the punishment of the crime OF polyg'
amy is left as under the f0rmer law
to the courts of justice. Under the
anti-pOlygamy act the Commission
l had good SUCCESS at the general
election in August, 1888, in eAclud-
ing polygamists from the polls, and
AS far as advised. very few, if any, VI.
legal votes have been cast in Utah
since the Commission took charge of
the registration and elections in
August, 1883. The enforcement o:
the present law against 1900 polyg-
amists, who have been excluded
from the polls, shows the act has
been fully aud succ ssfulIy executed.
1t is thought that discrimination be-
tween those MormOns who practice
pOlygamy and those who do not,
while it is not likely to have much
effect elderly men who have already
u pIuaralty of wives and upon the
young men of the Territory, many
of whom are ambitious and aspiring
and would not like voluntarily to
embrace political enthusiasm. The
very existence Of law DISTINGUISHING
pOlygamists must tend to destroy
their influence whenever it is under
stood it is to bea permanent discrim-
nation. The fact also that it will be
necessary to the preservation Of the
political influence Of the peoples
party, as the M0rInons style them
selves, to have a.large body OF their
numbers, who are pulygamists: must
tend to weaken the practice of polyg-
amy, for every Mormon who taxes
but one plural wife loses three votes
for his party, his own and
those Of his two wives, Wo-
man suffrage being established by
law in Utah. Concerning the piur-
atty of wives the report says
the doctrine and practice are
80 odions throughput Chris
tiandom that it should have been
upheld o many years against the
laws Of Congress and the sentiments
of the civilized world IS a marvel of
the nineteenth century and can be
scarcely appreciated even by those ia
mlliar with the worlds history. In
relation to the difficulties of govern
ment control or suppression of relig-
ious fanaticism. certainly no govern
ment "a permit a violation of laws
under the guise of religious freedom.
While Congress may not legislate as
to the mere matter of opinion yet it
may denounce and punish as crimes
those actions which are in violation
Of social duties or . subversion of
good order. The right of Congress to
suppress this great evil is undoubted,
is equally plain. The dignity and
good name of this great nation among
the nations ofthe earth demand such
congressional action as shall effect
ually eliminate this national dis
grace. TIE commissi N reviews the
recommendation contained in tie
report Of November 18th, 1882,
notably n regarding the passage
of a marriage law by Congress de-
claring all future m .rriages in the
territory null and void unless con.
trac1ed and evidenced in a ann
provided by the act. If the next leg
lslature snail fail to adopt measure in
conformity with the provisions of
the act of 1882 for the suppression of
pOlygamy the commission will be
prepared to recommend and Congress
certainly will not delay the adoption
of the most stringent measures COM
patiLIe with the limitations of the
constitution that may be considered
necessary for the suppress +ion of this
great evil. The report refers to va
rious municipal elections and saws
the most important election was that
of August 6, 1889. The total number
of votes ca, t in this contest was 21.-
1853 against 2 1928 of last n V. mbrr
election. The principal falling oft
was on .he part OF Gentiles Or a lib
eral party. In November the total
vote Of the people, or Mormon party
was 2 1909; Liberal, 1854 In August. {
1883. The vote of the peoples party
D,5O8; liberal, 1852. From which
it appears that large numbers !
Of liberals refrained from voting, :
= fact much to be regretted, for the =!
reason 1t is believed that oy a proper !
effort and good management me or y
more non-Mormons might have been :
to the Legislature who would I
nave an opportunity of putting a !
majority on record. In conclusion =
Commissioners say that recently )
'Ome ten suits We're instituted in the .
Third District Court of Utah by Nor !,
mons against mf mbers of this Com i
mission, complaining that they had .
'een unjustly deprived Of the right !
o register u vote. These are un- y
TO be test cases designed l
o contest the conslitutionaiity Of the )
1dmunds act as we'll as the legal con- a
truction which we put upon its pro- a
'isions. The suits are still undecided !
M are likely to he appealed IT, the :
upreme court of the United States. {
t has been asserted that polyyamic >
marriages have increased since the ::
OF the Edmunds act. On the u
ontrary We have the opinion of mauv !.
and non Mormons, that i
hey w comparatively descreased "
ince the passage Of said act We y
the latter conclusion n
} correct, but the Utah Legislature 81
71ll have an opp0rtun ty of satisfy =.
lg the country on this peculiar sui,- u
ect. Passing such a public marriage U
8 that which we have suggested 10
congress by this and such other legis-
ation as we have indicated ti1ev
I'LL give the government assurance \
I their loyalty and patriotism, and .,
vert the contest that cannot but re- g.
ut In their discontinue. We con. IL
ger 1t proper to commend the zeal ~,
the Governor of Utah in his efforts -
enforce the laws. y
toighed.l ALEX. RAMSAY, q,
A. S. PADDOCK, 10
q. L.. GODFREY. to
A, B CARLTON. TO
J. r. PETIGREW, ~
10 HON. II. M. TELLER. Secretary 10
the Interior. "
By
LONDON, Oct. 3O.-While the ~,
Gamer City of Berlin was entering H.
!e Mersey she colided with Her
aJes'y's ship Howk, damaging the ha
Cflrhnor ri hnu,, o- "