Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-11-03
AGAINST POLYGAMY.
Full Report of the Utah Commission
The LAW Found to beEfectiye.


Full Report of the Utah Commission
The Law Found to beEffective.
Washington, Oot. 3l-The Utah CON-
mission, through its chairman. Alexan-
der Ramsey, has submitted to the secre-
tary of the interior the annual report
upon the transactions and proceedings
of the commission since Nov. IS, 1884,
the date of their last report. The report
says:
The usual annual revisions of the
Utah registration lists for the present
year were duly and thoroughly made by
the officers OF the board. and the gen.
eral election was held on Aug. 3rd last.
polygamy was allowed to register or
vote, nor was any such person elected or
commissioned to any Office This point,
therefore has been surely reached that
the name of polygamist cnnnot be
found upon the registration list, and
none of this class are holding Office.
Neverthel .ss it Is true that nearly all
officers chosen at the last and in other
preceding elections are Mormons who,
while they do not actually live in polyg-
amy, subscribe to the doctrine of polyg-
amous marriage as divine relation,
law higher and more binding
upon the conscience than any human
law. Notable exceptions, however, oc-
Cured in Summit county, where the en-
tires non-Mormon ticket, including a
member of the house of representatives
OF the assembly was elected. This rep
resentative was the first non Mormon
elected for many years. The commits
sioners refer to the recent decision of
the supreme court in the polygamy
cases as a timely and valuable interpre
tatlon OF the law. 1t is believed that
there have been very few polygamous
marriages during the present year, but
1t is not regarded as prudent to look
upon this fact as indicating anything
more than suspension of the practice
resulting from the vigorous enforce
ment of the law, and not as an actual
surrender occasioned by general and
decided change of sentiment regarding
the doctrine itself. Indeed, it is believed
that all operations by the commission
and courts under the present law should
at once cease, or even if q less stringent
law against polygamy should take the
place OF the one now in force, it is more
than probable that plural marriages
would grow again very general in. Utah.
The firm attitude of the government,
the faIthfal execution of the laws sus-
tanned by public sentiment, have exert
ed repressiye influence on the Mormon
people never before experienced by
them since their establishment in Utah.
The course of certain polygamlsts who
have declared their intention of ebeylng
the law in fine, thereby mourning the
wrath of the church, is cited as evidence
OF internal dissensions which, although
feeble, Is an encouraging feature Of the
situation. Every step forward by the
government will give more strength and
courage to those whose desire it is to
respect and obey the law. A single step
backward in legislation or ADMINISTERS,
tion will help the church to crush out
this growing spirit of opposition, and
perhaps lose to the movement against
polygamy all that has been gained by
the passage of the Edmunds act The
report pays high tribute to the zeal
and success OF the present officers of the
federal court. Within two years eighty
three indictments have been found for
polygamy and unlawful cohabltatiop;
there have been twent y-three convic.
tions and forty-three cases are now
awaiting trial. The great increase of
business before the federal court at Salt
Lake City, resulting from the prosecu-
ton of polygamy cas- s, Las made it
necessary that the appointment of an
additional lldge shouli be authorized
by congress. 1t is regretted that the
prosecuting attorney and his assistant
have foundi it necessary to tender their
| designations owing to the Inadequate
remuneration for their services The
commission replies at some length
to the allegations made by de-
tenders of polygamy that the prosacu-
4 tions under the Edmunds act are direct
cd solely against those who maintain
the polygamons relation that all sexual
derelictlons by other persons are not IN.
vestigated. The burden of their reioin.
der is that the law was not directed
against individual Iascivious practices
but against the assault by the Mormon
church upon the monogamic system
Little hope is entertained, in view OF
the past action of the legislative assem-
bly,, that it will this winter provide for
i filling the offices declared vacant by the
Edmunds act, Not the leust obstacle
in the enforcement of the law is found in
the fact that the legislative power il
arrayed in all its force and strength
against the desires of the people anc
government, and no hopeful Legislation
can be expected, although the legisla.
ture is supported by the national treas
! ury. The commission renews all of the
recommendations contained in the sen
ate bill 1888, which failed of passage ii
the house of representative during th,
\ last session, and its report, of las
3 year, and submits the following recon
r mendation: That the term of impriso
3 ment fo- unlawful cohabitation be ex
2 tended to at least two years for frat an.
, three years for the second offense; tina
, all persons be excluded by law iron
l making location OF settlement on an