, 1886-06-06
T~ELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Anti Polygamy Legislation--A
New Mormon Bill.
John Kelly's Funeral-Floods
AID WaShOuts.
Debate On the Land Question
Fish and Flummery.
Antl-tolygamy Legislation.

Antl-folygamy Legislation.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-The house
judiciary committee to day agreed to re-
port favorably the Edmunds anti polyg-
amy bill, with amendments, some of
which are of a radical nature. The bill as
it came fiom the senate compelled the
lawful wife of persons accused of %polygamy
to testify against him. The committee
propose to amend the bill in that respect
so as to make the wife a competent wit
ness, but not to compel her testimony or
permit her to testify as to any confidential
matter contrary to the rule of common
law. The change in the statute of legls-
lation of the bill as 1t came from the sen
ate is stricken out. and the second section
| OF the bill, relating to attachment against
witnesses, is amended so as to authorize
the issue of such attachments only where
it is necessary as shown by the oath of
two creditable witnesses. The section re-
q~uiring the record of all marriages is re-
tanned, but the fifth section. which au-
thorizes examination of private records OF
marriages, is stricken out. The section
prohibiting female suffrage is retained in
tact. Material change is made in the
twelfth section, which authorizes the APP
pointment of fourteen trustees to act in
conjunction with a trustee of the Mormon
churches in administering its affairs. In
-. L. IL. .A...,,,. H. ..~.~,.l n M.
ton annulling the act of incorporation of
the church, and dissolving it. The charter
of the Perpetual Emigration Fund Society
is also annulled, and the society dissolved,
and 1t is made the duty of the attorney
general to proceed in the supreme court
of the territory to effect the dissolution,
pay the debts and dispose of the property
Of the society according to the laws of
equity.
The bill provides for the crimes of
adultery, incest, polygamy, po%lygamous
association and cohabitation between sexes,
the last named in the same terms as is
proposed in the constitutional amend
ment, submitted by the committee. The
Office of territorial superintendent of
schools is abolished and a new ,fice is
created in its place, to be filled by the
commissioner of schools, to be appointed
by the governor. The provisions Of the
original bill touching dover and recog-
nizing the claims OF the first wife are re-
tanned. An additional section gives the
president power to grant amnesty as to all
crimes created by this as well as by the
original Edmunds act. All laws of refer
ence to the militia of the territory, crea-
ting the Nauvoo Legion are annulled,
and the general officers of militia are re-
quired to be appointed by the governor
by and with the advice OF his council,
while the legislative assembly of the terri
tory is authorized to pass laws providing
for the organization of militia, subject to
the approval Uf congress. The bill makes
the council of the territory to consist, as
now, of thirteen members, to be appoin-
ted by the president, by and with the
consent of the senate, Of citizens of the
residents Of the territory, one to be selec-
ted from each district, as now provided
by law.
1t is provided that the chief officer of
the territory shall be appointed by the
president and confirmed by the senate,
and minor officers by the governor by and
with the advice and consent of the
council. To each religious society OIL
denomination is given the right to hold
through trustees appointed by the county
courts of the territory, ten acres OF land in
towns and fifty acres in the country for
houses Of worship and for residences Of
ministers, priests and religious teachers.
but it is provided that no such society
shall besides these hold more property in
money value than $50, 900. 1t is provided
that all laws granting water, timber or
herd rights on any part of the public do
main to any person Or corporation shall be
a%nnulled and declared void, and the attor.
ney general is directed to enforce this
provision. Every male person in the ter
ritory is required to appear before the
clerk of the probate court in the county
where he may reside and register his full
name, state whether he is married or
single, and if married, the name OF his
lawful wife; take an oath that he will
support the constitution and obey the
laws Of the United States and especially