Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-07-15
ABOLISH IT.

The thing that is now agitating the
public mind to a certain extent is the
abolition or retention of the Utah Com.
mission. 1t was created by the Edmunds
act to enforce the provisions of that act.
and its abolition was contemplated when
the Legislature of this Territory should
enact such laws regarding elections and
electors as would further the object
of that act. The Legislature framed
such an oath as they thought would
meet the exigencies of the case, but
it was not approved by the Governor.
1t was indefinite in its requirements and
doubtful in its intention. The Edmunds
act disfranchised polygamists and did SO
with the intention OF aiding in the
eventual extirpation of the prac-
tice of polygamy, and when it
provided means whereby the
Utah Commission might cease and its
functions be performed by officers created
or designated by the Territorial Legisla-
ture, it contemplated distinct recogni-
ton by the Territory that polygamists
were disfranchised and that voters must
not have the disqualification OF that prac-
tice attaching to them. The law that was
framed in the Legislature only remotely,
if at all, contemplated this Any act that
the Legislature may pass must be definite
on this point, else it will not be approved
by Congress. The duties of the Commits
sioners themselves are nominal, con-
sisting merely OF the nomination and ap-
pointment of the registrars and judges OF
election, upon whom rests all the re-
sponsibility. To criticize an institution
and not suggest a change, if not an i'm
provement, is scarcely a proper thing.
Now we have seen what the duties of the
Commission are-the appointment of
registrars and judges of election--and we
are firmly of the opinion that those
duties could be equally as well, and much
more cheaply, performed upon the follow
ing plan: Let the Governor and Secre-
tary and Probate Judge of each county
appoint the registrars and judges of cleo
ton for each county. This arrangement
would insure the preponderance of in
fuence in appointing election officers on
the side of the Government, the same as
it is to-day under the Commission. There
is this in favor of such an arrangement
also-it is recognition of the right OF
local self government-and would
give the Governor and Secretary an
opportunity OF becoming acquainted with
the people of the Territory, thing that
would tend to create better feeling be-
tween the Federal officials and the peo- |
pie, and good feeling between officials and |
the people is the basis of good govern
ment. If the Legislature would enact
law contemplating some such arrange |
ment as this and recognizing and giving
force to theintent of the Edmunds law,
it is safe to say that Congress would
speedily recognize their effort and abolish
the Utah Commission The Governor
and Secretary would have ample time, as
well as the Probate Judges, to attend to
the new duties that this plan contem-
plates, and their work in this direction
could easily be performed during a couple
OF months. Such plan would in the
very first instance save twenty-five thou
sand dollars year to the Government
and tend much more than the present
plan of Commission to solve the Utah