The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-22
ANTI-POLYGAMY.
Provisions of the Bill Reported from tho Ju-
dietary Committee by Mr.. Edmunds.

Provisions of the Bill Reported from the Ju-
dietary by Mr.. Edmunds.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-The anti polygamy
bill reported back to-day by Senator Edmunds,
from the Judiciary committee, provides that in
any prosecution under a statute of the United
States for bigamy, ~polygamy or unlawful cohab-
ltation. the lawful husband or wife of the
accused shall be a competent witness, and
may be compelled to testify; that an attach
ment for a witness may be issued without
a previous subpoena, when there is a reasonable
ground TO believe that a witness will refuse to
obey a subpoena; that every marriage ceremony
Id the Territories shall be certified in writing,
the certificate to be signed by each of the par
ties, and by the officer or priest per-
forming the ceremony, such certificate
to be ~prima-facie evidence of the facts
when produced in court. Failure to fur
nlsn the certificate is made punishable
riages kept by officiating functionaries shall be
subject to inspection by United States officials,
and refusal to permit this is punishable by fine
and imprisonment; that it shall not be lawful
held in the Territory of Utah for any
public purpose whatever, and no
such votes shall be received or counted, or
given effect in any manner whatever; and
tive Assembly of the Territory of Utah providing
for or allowing the registration or voting by FED
male is annulled; that all laws of the Legislative
Assembly Of the Territory of Utah which PRO
vides for numbering the votes of the ~electorsl
said Territory are disapproved and
nulled; that the laws enacted by -
Legislative Assembly of the Territory
of Utah. comforting jurisdiction upon
probate courts. or the judges thereof, or any Of
them, in said Territory, other than in respect Of
the estates of deceased persons, and in respect
of the guardianship of the persons and property
of infants, and in respect of the persons and
property Of persons not of sound mind, are dis
approved and annulled; that the laws Of
Utah recognizing the capacity of illegitimate
children to inherit a fathers property are disap-
proved and a~nnulled, and no illegitimate child
born subsequent to the passage Of the act. shall
be entitled to any share in the inheritance; that
all laws of Utah which provide that prosecution
for adultery can only be commenced on COM
plant of the husband or wife axe an.
nulled; that the acts of the Utah
legislature 70 recognizing the corporation
day Saints. and the ordinances of the Social and
General Assembly of the State of Deseret, incor-
%porating this body, are annulled so far as they
may preclude the appointment, by the Presi-
who shall have all the powers provided for in
the laws creating the said corporation.
The Legislative Assembly Of tho Territory
shall not have power to change the laws
respecting this corporation without the approval
of Congress. 1t shall be the duty of the Attor-
ney- general of the United States to institute
and prosecute proceedings to forfeit to
the United States the property of corporations
obtained or held in violation of law, and all
property so forfeited shall be disposed of and
the proceeds applied to the common schools of
the Territory, provided that no building shall be
forfeited which is held aud occupied exclusive
ly for purposes of religious worship; that
all laws of the Territory relating to the
Perpetual Emigration Fund Company are an
nul.ed, and it shall not be lawful for the Terri
torlal Assembly to create any corporation or
association for the purpose of bringing persons
into the Territory for any purpose whatsoever;
that it shall be the duty of the Attorney
general to bring suit to dissolve the said cor
poration and wind up its affairs. The existing
election districts and appointment OF represen ia
ton to the Legislative Assembly of the
Territory are abolished, and the Governor. Sec
rotary and United States judges in tbs Terri
tory are ordered to redistrict the Territory as
once, so as to secure equal representation ae The
people. Adultery is made punirhahle by
Imprisonment for not more than
three years, and in case Of for
~nication by an unmarried man or woman, each
is to be punished by not more than six months
Imprisonment. or 800 fine. Commissions APP
pointed by the Supreme Court and District
Courts Of Utah are given all the powers OF
justices of the peace, and the marshal of the
Territory and his deputies are given all the
power possessed by sheriffs and their deputies as
peace officers. The bill also provides additional
power to commissioners appointed by the courts
and to United States marshals in Utah.