National Republican., 1884-06-19
REFRESHING BEAsTLINEsS.
A Law That RevolutionizeS the Government
Of POlygamOus Utah.
The Strong Hand OF tho United States to
Throttle the EVIL.

The Utah BILL as passed by tho senate, pro-
vides that tho lawful husband or wife may bo
compelled to testify in prosecutions for big
amy, polygamy, or unlawful cohabitation.
In such prosecutions an attachment for q
witness may be issued without previous sub
pUns, when IL shall appear to the judge that
the witness would unlawfully fail to obey a
subpoena. Bail may bo accepted for the APP
pearancc of such witness, and in any case no
or she shall not be held longer than ten days.
Prosecutions may bo commenced within fvo
years after the commission Of the offensc.
Every marriage ceremony In any territory
of the United States shall DO certified in
writing, which writing shall state the full
names Of all persons taking part in the ccio.
mony, and shall be signed by them, and
shall, by the officer or priest solemnizing tho
marriage, be fled with and recorded in tho
probate court. Such certificate shall be
prima fscio evidence of the facts stated in it.
Any violation of this provision is punished
by n fine of not more than 81 600 or impris-
onment for not moro than two years, or by
| both. Every such certificate and record
shall be at all reasonable times open to the
inspection of tho officers of justice of the
United States, under like penalty for refusal
TO exhibit for inspection.
Women shall not DO entitled to voto in
Utah. ALI measures of the territorial logis-
laturo providing for numbering or Identify
| ing the votes of the electors are disapproved
and annulled, but this provision is not to
preclude lawful registration Of votes, or any
othor provisions for securing fair election
! that do not involve disclosure of the person
for whom the elector voted. The probate
court is deprived of all jurisdiction except as
! to estates Of deceased persons and the guar
| dianshp Of person and property of infants
and lunatics. All laws Of the territory of
Utah comforting rights Of inheritance on
| illegitimste children arc annulled. Terri
torial laws providing that prosecutions for
| adultery can only bo commenced on the com
| plant of the husband or wife are annulled,
and all such prosecutions may hereafter be
instituted in the same way that prosecutions
| for other crimes are Territorial laws
incorporating, continuing, or providing
for the corporation known rs the Church
| of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
and the ordinan ces of tho so'cailed general
assembly Of the state of Deseret in Incorporating g
such church are annulled, so far as they may
preclude the appointment Of trustees by the
| United States. The president Of the United
States, with tho advice of the senate. shall
appoint fourteen trustees of said corporation,
| who shall have tho power Of trustees and
assistant trustees provided for in the act
creating that corporation, shall hold Office
two years, and shall each give bond in an
amount to bo fixed by the secretary of the
interior. They shall make an annual report
| to that secretary of all the property, busi-
ness, affairs, and operations of the said corpo-
ration; aud the general assembly of Utah
| shall not have power to change the laws
respecting the corporation without the ap-
proval of congress.
In all proceedings for the enforcement oi
! law against corporations or associations hold
| ing property in any territory in excess of the
amount limited by law the courts shall have
power to summarly compel production of all
books and accounts belonging to any trustee
or manager Of property in which such cor.
poration may have any right, title, or interest
| All laws of Utah relating to the Perpetua al
Emigrating Fund company are annulled, and
it is rendered unlawful for the legislature Of
| the territory to create or recognize any cor.
poration or association having for its object
the bringing of persons into the territory fol
any purpose whatever.
The attorney general is directed to insti
tute, in tho supreme court of the territory
proceedings to dissolve tho company named
and dispose of its property and assets accord
ing to law. Such property and assets in
excess of the debts and lawful claims estab
lished by the court shall escheat to tho United
States, and shall be used by the secretary o
the interior, under the direction of the Presi
dent, for the benefit of the common schools
Of the territory.
All existing election districts in the terri
tory are abolished, and it is made the duty o
the governor, tho territorial secretary, an(
tho United States judges Of the territory t.
redistrict the territory so as to secure equa
representation of tho people. No persons bu
properly qualified citizens of the Unitet
States are entitled to vote in the territory.
The bill declares vacant the office of terri
torial superintendent of the district schools
and vests the power of appointment of sucl
official in the supreme court.
1t prescribes the penalty for the crime o
adultery to be Imprisonment in the peni
tentiary for not exceeding three years.
The right of dover of widows is secured BY
provisions similar to the dover law of th
state of New York. The bill now goes to th
house of representatives.