The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-19
THE UTAH BILL,
A Measure Which Proposes to Abolish AL
most Everything in the Territory.

most Everything in the Territory.
| WASHINGTON, June 18-The Utah bill, as
passed by the Senate, provides that lawful
husband or wife may be compelled to testify in
prosecutions for bigamy, polygamy, or unlawful
cohabitation. In such prosecution an attachment
for a witness may be issued with the previous
subpoena, when it shall appear to the judge that
the witness would unlawfully fail to obey the
subpoena. Bail may be accepted for the appear
ance of such witness, and in any case he or she
shall not be held longer than ten days. Prose
cutions may be commenced within five years af-
ter commission of the offense Every marriage
ceremony in any Territory of the United States
shall be certified in writing, which writing shall
state the full names of all per-
sons taking part in the ceremony,
and shall be signed by them, and SHALL by the
| officer or priest solemnizing such marriage, be
| filed with the record in the Probate Court; such
certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the
facts stated in it, Any violation of this provision
| is punished by fine of not more than 81, 900 or
Imprisonment for not more than two years or
| both. Every such certificate and record shall
be, at all reasonable times, open to the inspec-
ton of the officers of justice of the United
States under like penalty for refusal to exhibit
| for inspection
| Women shall not be entitled to vote in Utah.
All measures of the Territorial Legislature pro-
viding for the numbering OF identifying of the
votes of electors are disapproved and annulled,
hut this provision is not tn praclnde lawful
| istration of voters or any other provisions for
securing fair elections that do not involve the
| disclosure of the person for whom the elector
voted.
| The Probate Court is deprived Of all iurisdic-
tion except as to the estates of deceased persons
| and guardianship of the person and property of
infants and lunatics. All laws of the Territory
OF Utah comforting rights of inheritance to lille
| gitirnate children are annulled. The Territorial
laws providing that prosecution for adultery can
| only be commenced on complains of husband or
wife are annulled and all such prosecutions
may hereafter be instituted in the same way
that prosecutions for other crimes are
| The Territorial laws incorporating, continuing
or providing for the corporation known as the
| Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints {"
and the ordinances, so-ealied, of the General
Assembly of the State of Deseret, Incorporating
such church, annulled so far as
they may preclude the appointment of trustees
| by the United States The President
of the United States, with the advice of the Sen
ate, shall appoint fourteen trustees of said cor
poration, who shall have the powers of trustees
and assistant trustees provided for in the act
creating that corporation; they shall hold office
two years, and shall each give bond in an
amount to be fixed by the Secretary of the In
terror. The General Assembly of Utah shall
not have power to change the laws respecting
this corporation without the approval Of Con
gress.
In all proceedings for the enforcement of the law
against corporations associations holding
property in any Territory in excess of the amount
limited by law, the courts shall have power
summarily to compel the production of all books
and accounts belonging to any trustee or man
ager of property in which such corporation may
have any right, title or interest.
All laws of Utah relating to the Perpetual
Emlgrating Fund Company are annulled, and it
is rendered unlawful for the Legislature of the
Territory to create or recognize any corporation
or association having for its object the bringing
OF persons into the Territory for any purpose
whatever. The Attorney general is directed to
Institute i'll the Supreme Court of the Territory
proceedings to dissolve the company named, and
dispose OF its property and assets according to
law; such property and assets in excess of the
debts and lawful claims established by the
courts shall escheat to the United States and
shall be used by the Secretary of the Interior,
under direction of the President for benefit of
the common schools of the Territory.
All existing election districts in the Territory
are abolished, and it is made the duty of the
Governor, the Territorial Secretary and the
trict the Territory to secure equal repre-
sentation of the people. No persons but
properly qualified citizens of the United States
are entitled to vote in the Territory.
The bill declares vacant the Office of Territor-
ial Superintendent of Schools, and vests the
power of appointment of such official in the
Supreme Court 1t prescribes the penalty for
the crime of adultery to be imprisonment in the
penitentiary for not exceeding three years
The right of dover of widows is secured by
provisions similar to the dover law of the
State of New York. The bill now goes to the
House.