The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-02-07
THE MORMON QUESTION.
The Provisions of the Bill Reported to the
United States Senate by Senator HOar,
from the Judiciary Committee for the
Suppression of POIygamy.


United States Senate by senator HOar,
from the Judiciary Committee for the
Suppression of POIygamy.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Is.
Senator Hoar reported to-day from the
Committee on Judiciary an anti-polygan1y
bill, which embraces the principal features
of the Edmunds bill introduced at the pres
ent session, and adds other provisions orig
mating with the committee.
The first section provides, in any prose-
cutiOn for bigamy, polygamy or unlawful
cohabitatiOn, under any statute Ofthe United
States, the lawful husband or wife of the
person accused shall be a competent wit
ness, and may be called and compelled to
testify in such proceedings.
The second section provides in any such
prosecution an attachment may be issued
Tor any witness and his or her immediate
attendance compelled without previous
subpoena when there is reasonable ground
for believing he or she will unlawfulIy fail
to obey the subpoena issued in the usual
course
The third section provides that prosecu-
ton for bigamy, polygamy or unlawful CO.
habitatiOn may be commenced at any time
within five years after commission of the
offense. This provision however, does not
apply to any offense already barred by the
statute of limitations,
Section provides for the certifcation of
marriages in the Territories and penalties
for the violation of its provisions
Section 3 provides that the records of
marriages or anything in the nature of
marriage ceremony of any kind, made or
kept by any officer, clergyman, priest or
person performing civil or ecclesiastical
functions, whether lawful not, in any
| Territory of the United States, shall be
! subject to inspection at all reasonable times
by any judge, magistrate or officer of jus
! tice appointed under the authority of the
/ United States, under penalty not to exceed
/ 81 600 and Imprisonment not to exceed two
| wears, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Section provides for the annulment of
! all laws providing for allowing egistra-
/ tion or voting by females in the Territory
| OF Utah, and makes it unlawful for any fe-
male to vote at any election hereafter held
! in the Territory of Utah for any public pur-
! pose whatever.
! Sections s. and 10 provide for the an
! nulment of all laws of the Territory of Utah
! which provide for the Identification of vo-
! ters at elections and for recognition of the
capacity of illegitirnate children to inherit
/ and which confer iurisdc on Probate
Courts, except III respect to deceased per-
! sons and the guardianship of infants and
! insane persons.
Section II provides for the annuIment of
| all laws which provide that such prosecu-
/ tions may hereafter be instituted III the
/ same way as prosecutions for other crimes.
Section y provides that all laws incOr-
/ pOTatlng. continuing or providing Tor the
! corporation known as the Mormon Church
as far the same may preclude the ap-
! pOintment of certain trustees of said cor
! poration, as hereinafter provided, shall be
| annuled. 1t also directs the President,
| with the consent of the Senate, TO appoint
| fourteen trustees, who shall exercise the
functions prescribed for such corporations,
| and shall hold office two years, and shall
report annually to the Secretary of the In
terror as to the property, business affairs
and operations of said corporation.
| Section Is provides that it shall be the
duty of the Attorney General of the United
| States to institute and prosecute proceed
| ings, to forfeit and escheat to the United
! States property of corporations obtained
! or held in violation of section 8 of the act
of Congress, approved the 1st of July, 1882.
| All property so forfeited to be disposed of
! by the Secret ary of the Interior, and the
| proceeds applied to the use and benefit of
! the common schools in the Territory in
| which such property may be.
Section IA provides that in all proceed
! ings for the enforcement of the law against
| corporation holding property IN excess
| of the amount limited by law the court
| shall have power to compel tie production
| of books and papers from persons manag-
| ing the property in which such corpora
| tiOns have any rights or interests.
Section - provides for the annulment OF
all laws creating or continuing the assocl-
alton or corporation called the Perpetual
Emigrating Fund Company
| Section is directs the AttOTney-General
| of the United States to take steps to dis
| solve that corporation and provide that the
/ assets in excess of the debts shall eseheat
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 abollshment
| of the existing election districts and ap-
! pOTtiOnment of representation concerning
members of the Legislative Assembly OF
the Territory of Utah, and it shall be the
! duty of the Governor, Territorial Secreta-
| rY and United States Judges of said Ter
ritory to redistrict the Territory and APP
portion the representation so as to assure
equal representation to citizens of the
United States according to numbers in said
| Legislative Assembly, such establishment
of districts and representation TO continue
until Congress shall otherwise provide
Section Is provides that all registration
| and election offices of every description IN
the Territory of Utah shall upon the enact
ment of the bill into a law be declared va
cant; that all duties relating to registra-
tion of voters, conduct of elections, receiv-
ing or eiectiOn of votes, canVaSSIng ana
/ returning the same and issuing certificates
or other evidence of election in said Terri
tory shall for the present be performed un-
der the existing law of the Tel ritoTy and
the United States by persons who SHAH be
selected to perfOr'G that duty by the board
! specially provided for by this bill. IL pro-
! vides this board shall consist OF five per
sons, 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 receive a
salary of 5000 per annum; that this board
shall continue in office until the Legislative
Assembly of the Territory shall make a
provision for filling the registry and election
offices in the Territory, and that the Secre-
tary of the Territory shall be Secretary u
the board, keep journal of the proceed
ings and attest its action. 1t provides for
a canvass of all returns of elections by this
board and the issuance by it of all certih-
Gates of election of members of the Assem-
blv, such certificate to be the only evidence
Of the right Of such persons to sit in such
Assembly. It provides, however, that the
board shall not exclude from the polls or
refuse tc count the vote of any person 9th
| erwise eligible to vote on account of any
opinion such person may entertain on the
subject of bigamy or polygamy.