San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-02
An Anti.PoIYgamY Bill.

WASHINGTON, March -Representa-
tive WOodburn to-day introduced in the
house the anti-pOlygamy bill, which has
received the approval Of prominent gen
temen in Utah and been submitted to
members Of the Judiciary committee OF
both houses Of congress. In its pream-
Bile 1t recites that the United States stat
utes prohibit and provide for the punish
ment Of bigamy, polygamy and unlaw-
full cOhabitatiOn territories, and for
the disqualification Of persons guilty Of
such Offenses to vote or hold office.
That the act Of giving aid, counsel, adj
vice or encouragement, thereby prOcur-
ing the commission OF such Otfenses,
should be made q crime, punishable with
equal severity. That there exists in
Utah a sect which in its creed holds as
one of its fundamental principles, and
as n sacramento rite, the right and duty
OF its members TO practice unlawful CO.
habitatiOn. That high priests, leaders
and members thereof, claiming TO be in
spired by, acting in obedience to an au-
thOrity superior to the United States, do
openly and publicly counsel, advise and
command members Of said sect to COM
nit the said offences in open and pro-
fessed defiance and contempt of the
laws of the United States and by reason
OF such counsel, advice and command
many thousands Of the meUIbers of said
sect have been induced to commit said
ogenses, and are now living and cOhabit-
ing with a plurality OF sO-called wives
and concubines, but escape punishment
for said Offenses by secret intrigue and
various corrupt influences which the
- nj Tor
bles the leaders Of said sect to exercise,
all of which brings the law and author
ity Of the United States into disgrace
and contempt and render the same OF no
effect. The bill provides:
Section |. That no person who shall
hereafter directly or indirectly counsel.
encourage or advise others to marry,
have cOnsOrt, or COhabit with any other
person other than his or her lawful wife
or husband, who is member, or shall
contribute to the support of any Organi-
cation or association of any description
whatever which authorizes, COunsels,
encourages or permits any Of its mem
beers to marry, have. COnsOrt or COhabit
with more than one woman at the same
time shall not vote at any election held
in any territory of the United States, or
be eligible for election or appointment
to, or be entitled to hold any office or
place of public trust, honor or emolu-
ment in, under or for any territory OF
the United StStes OF America, or under
the United States in either of the said
territories, nor shall any such person be
entitled to locate, make settlement up
on, or acquire titleto any of the lands OF
the public domain of the United States
of America, or be eligible TO serve as a
a. for M in nff hnr ~ raiI
territories
Section 3. That If any person who
shall take the oath set forth in section
. of this act. either to qualify as a voter
or juror. or to hold Office or locate upon
public lands, shall swear falsely. said
person shall be guilty of perjury. and on
conviction thereof shall be punished by
fine not exceeding $4,000, and be i'm
prisoned for term not exceeding IA
years, nor less than months.
Section 4. That every person elected
or appointed to any office or place of
public trust, honor or emolument, in,
under or for any Territory of the United
States, or under the United States in
either of said Territories, shall before
entering upon the duties Of said office,
in addition to the usual Oaths of office,
take or subscribe to the oath set forth in
section 2 of this act.
Section >. That every person who
small hereafter locate or make settlement
upon any OF the lands Of the public do
main. or seek to acquire title thereto,
shall take and subscribe to the oath set
forth in section of this act before
proper officer OF the General Land De-
partmsnt in the district in which the
lands may be situated.
Section 6. That all poll or registry
lists existing or kept under laws of any
of the territories of the United States
prior hereto are hereby declared void,
and proper registration boards, commits
sioners, supervisors or officers of cleo
ton in the several territories are hereby
and directed, before a gen
eral election shall be held in their re-
spective territories or election districts
to prepare new lists containing the
names only of persons eligible to vote or
hold office under the provisions of this
act.