Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-06
THE UNITED STATES VS.. UTAH.

In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Cullom in
troduccd resolution, which was agreed
to, directing the Secretary OF the Treas
ury to "report the balance due the United
States from Utah on account oi moneys
advanced for court expenses" and later
in the day the same gentleman intro
duced bill, which was referred to the
Committee on Expenditures of Public
Money. directing the Secretary OF the
Treasury to withhold the salaries OF the
members and officers OF the Legislature
until all the money due the United States
is reimbursed The moneys advanced
by the Government for the purposes
mentioned in Mr. Cullom's resolution, up
to January 1st, 1886, foot up the snug lit
tie sum of $267, 1884.
Shortly after the Legislature convened,
Governor Murray called the attention OF
that body to the fact that Utah was in
debted to the General Government in the
above-named sum for moneys advanced
and dsbursed as indicated in Mr..
Cullom's resolutions, and he urged that
provision be made at this session for
liauidating the debt. Me Legislature,
however, has been in session for fifty
five days and as yet not 4 move has been
made toward making any such pro-
vision. 1t is doubtful, indeed, il the
members OF the Legislature have
ut any time given the matter
IL second thought, and it is questionable
ii, even in the face OF the means which
the Government now proposes to resort
to to partially reimburse itself for the
moneys it has advanced, these pig-headed
Mormons will do solitary thing looking
toward an honorable settlement OF the
claim.
In this connection it is amusing to read
the clustering remarks which some of
the Mormon papers indulged in at the
time the members OF the Assembly were
urged to give the matter their attention.
The Herald, having received its cue from
the News, proceeded to spread itself as
follows:
The talk about compelling the Territory
TO llQuluaUe THESE DlllS IL HOllSeuSlCul III tue
extreme. BY what process can the Legis-
lature be forced to make the appropriation,
and how can the money be taken out of the
treasury without the Legislative authority
for doing so 1t is said that the debt will
have to be cancelled before the Territory is
admitted to the Union as n State, and per-
haps this is true: but is there anybody here
who even vaguely dreams that there is the
least probability of the admission of Utah,
within any reasonable period of time?
Let the Government officials keep piling
up their bills, and let the treasury clerks in
Washington keep on charging the money to
Utah; it is easier and cheaper for the people
of this Territory to let the matter run along
in that way than it would be to pay. the
money, Utah is ready, willing and able to
pay all the debts she creates; she is ready,
willing and able to pay the Legitimate ex-
penses of the courts, but we hope she will
never be willing to pay bills which she has
had no voice in creating, and that while she
in regard to the formation and conduct of
courts of justice, such as every other Amer
lean community enjoys. she will simply keep
the safe locked. The Territory can stand ii
quite as well and undoubtedly as long as the
Government can. Meanwhile, Governor
Murray might as well understand, that sc
far as Utah is concerned, it is immaterial
whether the debt against her on the Nationa
Treasury books is S267,000 or as many mil
lions 1t is n case where the creditor car
Uncle Samuel is most indulgen
guardian, but it is quite evident that ht
begins to realize that the Territory o
Utah, under Mormon control, has shame
4 fully abused his indulgence. He doesn'
propose to take out his just dues in merel.
charging, as this miserable Mormon
apologist for dishonesty says he will hav
to do, but he proposes to be Reimbursed
in full for all the sums he has advanced
and ii Mormon Legislature will nc
return him his money, Gentle Legis
lature will. By Withholding the comper
sation of the officers and members Of tn
present Assembly, some twenty ode
thousand dollars will have been covere
back into the treasury, and that will be
starter for the liquidation OF the whol
amount.
He must be an ignoramus indeed VIII,
like the Herald man, advances the ide
that the Territory cannot be compelle
to pay such Indebtedness as this. II
Territory can construe its own sins
omission into good cause for repudiatir
its Indebtedness in case like this, the
have we reached Il pretty pass indee'
The money will have to be paid doll
for dollar, and it is the height OF absur
ity for the members OF the Legislature
kick against the pricks and not expect
get their toes hurt.