National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-29
ANTI-POLYGAMY.
A Perfected Senate Bill for the UprOOting Of
the Mormon Blot on DeCenCy.
Tho Heroic Treatment for the EredicH-
tIon OF the Evil Advised.

Senator Hoar, from the committee on the
Judiciary, yesterday reported an anti-polyg-
amy bill, which embraces the principal fea-
lures of the Edmunds bill introduced during
the present session of congress, and adds to
them other provisions originating with the
committee.
The first section Of the bill provides that in
any prosecution for bigamy, polygamy, or un-
lawful cohabitation under any statute of the
United States the lawful husband or wife of
the person accused shall be competent wit
ness and may DO called and compelled TO tes-
tify In such proceedings.
The second section provides that in any
such prosecution an attachment may DO is
sued for any witness and his or her immedi-
ate attendance compelled without previous
subpoena when there is reasonable ground for
believing that he or she will unlawfully
fail to obey subpoena issued in the usual
course.
The third section provides that prosecu-
tion for bigamy, polygamy, or unlawful CO.
habitation may be commenced at any time
within five years after the commission of tho
offense. This provision, however, is not to
apply TO any ofiense already barred by any
statute Of Limitation.
Section provides for the certihcation of
marriages In the territories, and provides
penalties for violation of its provisions, and
or Of anything in the nature OF marriage
ceremony of any kind, made or kept by any
officer, clergyman, priest, or person perform
ing civil or ecclesiastical functions whether
lawful or not, in any territory OF the United
States shall be subject to inspection ut all
reasonable times by any judge, magistrate, or
officer of justice appointed under the
authority of the United States under penalty
of o fine not TO exceed $1,000, and imprison-
ment not to exceed two years, or both such
fine and imprisonment.
Section Z provides for tho snnument of
all laws providing for or allowing the regis
traton or voting by females in the territory
of Utah, and makes it unlawful for any
female to vote at any election hereafter held
in the territory of Utah for any public pur-
pose whatever.
Sections g, o, and 10 provide for the aunul-
ment of all laws OF the territory of Utah,
which provide for the Identification of voters
at elections, and for the recognition of the
capacity of illogitimate children to inherit,
and which confer jurisdiction on probate
courts, except in respect of deceased persons
and the guardianship of infants and insane
persons.
Section IL provides for tho annulment of
all laws which provide that prosecution for
adultery can only be commenced by complaint
of husband or wife, and also provides that
such prosecutions may hereafter be instituted
in the same way as prosecutions for other
crimes.
Section 10 provides that all laws incorpo-
rating, continuing or providing for the COR
poration, known as the Mormon church, so
far as the same may preclude the appoint
ment of certain trustees of said corporation
as hereinafter provided shall he annulled. 1t
also directs the President, with the consent
of the senate to appoint fourteen trustees
who shall exercise the functions prescribed
for the trustees of such corporation, and shall
hold Office for two years. and shall report an
nually to the secretary of the interior as ia
the property, business affairs. and operations
of said corporation.
Section - provides that it shall be the duty
of the attorney general of the United States
to institute and prosecute proceedings to for
felt and escheat to the United States the
property of corporations obtained or hold in
violation of section of the act of Congress!
approved July l. 1882. All property so for
feited to be disposed of by the secretary o.
the interior, and the proceeds applied to the
use aud benefit of common schools in the ter
ritory in which such property may be.
Section Ia provides that in all proceedings
for the enforcement of law against corpora
tions holding property in excess of the
amount limited by law, the court shall have
power to compel the production of books anC
papers from persons managing property in
which such corporations may have any
rights or interests.
Section 10 provides for the annulment of al
laws creating OF inc dsSDClHClOn OF
corporation called the Perpetual Emigratinl
Fund company.
Section 16 directs tho attorney general o
the United States TO take steps to dissolve
that corporation and provides that the assets il
excess of the debts shall esCheat to the United
States and he invested by the secretary oil
the interior for the benefit of the common
schools in Utah.
Section II provides for the adjustment OF
the existing election districts and apportion
ments of representation concerning the mem.
bers of the legislative assembly of the
territory of Utah, and that it shall be the duty
of the governor, territorial secretary, and the
United States judges in said territory to
redistrict the territory and apportiOn its
representation so as to secure an equal repre-
sentation of the citizens of the United State,
according to numbers in said legislative
assembly, such establishment OF districts ant
of representation to continue until congress
shall otherwise provide.
Section Is provides that all tho registration
and election offices of every description in
the territory of Utah shall, upon the enact.
ment of the bill into law, be declared vacant
that all the duties relating to the registration
of voters, the conduct of elections the re
ceiving or rejection of votes, the canvassinl
and returning of the same, and the issuing OF
certificates or other evidences of election in
said territory shall for the present be per.
' formed under existing laws of the territory
and the United states by persons who shall OC
selected to perform that duty, by board
specially provided for by this bill, 1t pro-
vides that this board shall consist of five per
sons, to be appointed by the President, with
the advice and consent of the senate, mo-
more than three of them to be members oil
one political party, and each to receive q
salary at the rate of $4,000 per annum; thai
this board shall continue in office unit
the legislative assembly of tho territory shall
make provision for filling the registration
and election officers in the territory, and that
the secretary of the treasury shall be thc
secretary of the board, keep a journal of IT,
proceedings and attest its action.
1t provides for the canvass of all returns o
elections by this board, and the issuance by
it of all certificates of election of members o
the assembly, such certificates TO be the only
evidence of tho right OF such persons to ii
in such assembly. 1t provides, however, tina
the board shall not exclude from the polls o.
refuse to count the votes of any person other
wise eligible to vote, on account of any opn
ion such person may entertain on the subjec
of bigamy or polygamy.
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Republican Membership OF Senate Com