The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-01-31
THE PoLyaAMY BILL.
Roar'sz sn.endment 20 the Measure.
WaaatHcTo,x n n Ian % -Sansfe

ROar'sz amendment 60 the Measure.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan 2Ss-SenstoE
Hoar reported to-day from the commit
tee on Judiciary an amendment to the
polFgamY bill, which embraces the prin
cipAl features of the Edmunds bill intro
dnred at the present session, and adds
other provisions originating with the
committee. The first section provides
that in any prosecution TOR bigamY, pc
lygamy or unlawful CO. habit alton under
any statute of ihe United States, the
lawful husband, or wife, Of the person
accused shall be a competent witness
and may be called ard compelled TO tes-
tify IN such proceedings. Section four
provides for the eeItiication of mar
rlages in the territories and penalties for
violation of ITS provisions and Sec. 4
provides for record of marriages, or
anything in the nature of a marriage GER
emony. Section seven provides the
amendments of all laws providing for or
allowing the registration or voting by
! females in the territory of Utah, and
makes it unlawful for any female TO vote
at any election hefeaiteF helti in the
territory of Utah for any public pur-
pose whatever Sections eight, nine
and ten provide for the annaIment of all
laws Of the terIi;orY of Utah which pro-
vide for the identificaiiln of voters at
elections, and for the recognition of the
cap city ot llleg tim .t3 children to
inheritance. Section twelve pro
vides that all laws ineorporatedV
or continuing or providing for
the corporation known as the Nor
mon church as far as the same may pre-
clude the appointment of certain trus
tees of said corporation, as hereinafter
provided, shall be annulled. It also d.
reefs the president, with the consent of
the senate, to appoint fourteen trustees,
who shall hold office two wears, and shall
report annually to the secretary of the
Interior, as to property, business affairs
and operations of said corporation
Section thirteen provides that it shall be
the duty of the attorney general of the
United States to institute and prose cute
proceedings to forfeit and escheat 10 the
United States the property of corpora
tions Obtained or held IN violation of
section of an act OF congress approved
the first of July, 1882. All property so
forfeited shall be disposed of by the sec
rotary of the interior, and the
proceeds applied 10 the use and benefit
of the common schools 10 the territory
where such property may be. Section 10
provides for the annulment of all laws
creating or continuing the association
called the Perpetual Emigrating Fund
company. Section 16 directs the attor-
ney general of the United States TO take
steps to dissolve that corporation, and
provides that the assets IN excess OF
debts shall escheat To the United States
and be invested by the secretary of the
interior for the benefit OF the common
schools of Utah. Section II provides for
the abolishment of existing election dis
tricts and the appointments of repre-
sentatIon concerning members OF the
legislative assembly of the territory OF
Utah, and it shall be the duty of the GOV
ernor, the territorial secretary ana the
United States judges of said territory to
redistrict the territory and spportiOn the
representation so as to secure an equal
representation of citizens of the United
States according to number IN ssid leg
islative assembly. Section - provides
that all registration and election
offices In the territory of Utah shall
upon the enactment of the bill into
law be declared vacant and for the
present be filed by persons who shall
be selected to perform that duty by a
board TO consist of 45 persons to be
appointed by the president with the
advice and consent of the senate, not
more than three of them to be members
of one political party, and each to re-
ceive a salary of $1,000 per annum,
that this board shall continue in Office
until the legislative assembly of the ter
ritory shall make provision for filing
the registry aud election of officers IN
the territory, and that the SECRETARY of
the treasury shall be secretary of the
board, keep journal of the proceedings
and attest its action. 1t provides for a
canvass of all returns of elections by this
board, and the issuance by 1t of certifi-
Gates of election of members to the as
semblY, such certificates to be only evil
dence of the right of such persons to sit
in such assembly. 1t provides, howev-
er, that the board shall not exclude from
the polls or refuse to count the vote of
any person otherwise eligible to vote on
account of any opinion such person
may entertain on the subject of bigamy
or polygamy.