The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-20
NIB. VESTS VIEWS.
The Why's and Wheref ores of
The New Bill.
ILLEGALITY OF THAT debt. "
Mr. Dicksons Wages curIom's
Notwithstanding that on
Current Topics.

hon. Joseph A. Wes.. something o
whose iabors at Washington in behal
oil the people OF Utah the public hal
been made acquainted with through
HE HERALD, was encountered in the
CITY by reporter Friday evening fol
the first time since his r.turn. Know
Ing that he would be in possession Of
much that would be interesting at the
present time, ;he reporter asked leave
To subject him to the interviewing pro-
cess. and the following ensued:l
Q.-How do;yoa account for the Rad
ical character Of Chairman Tucker :
report, when he has So of n stated
through the pr IS that the Edmund
bill would be greatly modified b. his
committee7
A.-rhe Einunds bill as i came
! from the Senate has been greatly modi
| FED. and its modification i perhaps 10
some extent due 10 the able Efforts OF
Messrs. Boutwell,, Chandler, Gibson,
these gentiemen's argum nts you will
observe that nearly every point con-
| tended for by them unless Il be the
.disincorporatiOn of The Mormon
Church. has been conceded, either in
whole or in part. Therefore. so far as
fuckers promise of Modification Is
concerned. he has kept has word.
Q-BUt how was IL that the commit
tee, after rejecting the more objection
able features lUf the Edmunds bill,
added other and more radical provI-
sions?
Al account for it in this way:
Upon every national question OF cur
rent importance the people of the coun-
try are greatly divIded-so much so
that no matter what policy may be
pursued on any Of these issues BY either
party, their political gains in one sec
ton are very likely TO be offset by
losses in another. As q consequences
politicians are vigilantly watching the
effect upon the American people OF
every measure in Congress, and are ex-
ercising their best wisdom TO gain for
their respective parties the greatest
amount OF popular favor. Every meas
ure: having fer its object tine solution
Of the Mormon problem is bound to Sc
cure for the party advancing il the
unbounded approval of the American
people. irrespective OF creed or party.
so bitter, unrelenting, and wide
spread is the popular prejudice
against US. As a Consequence this
question is perhaps the only one before
the country to-day upoa which either
party can make positive gains, with no
possible chances OF political losses.
Politicians are, therefore. eager TO Sc
cure TO their respective parties all the
political capital 10 be made out Of q
0naafsna nffar-nu cnCh nm "a llafaI al :
vantages. Edmunds introduced a Re
publican measure III the Senate upon
this subject. but q Democratic commit
tee OF the House, finding from the
arguments made ample Justification for
striking out or modifying its principal
provisions, seized upon the opportunity
70 create Hpon the slender frame work
left, another entirely different and much
more string ut measure, hop NJ there
by to secure 10 themselves the political
prestige that otherwise would have gone
20 their political opponent. Each pa "
is anxious to secure credit for any legis-
latiye measure that will bring about the
solution Of the Mormon problem, which
they think is on the eve of being solved.
The Republicans. you know, have been
working at it for over twenty four
years. / believe the Democrats are
anxious to fix it up during this admin
istration. and are sanguine that they
will be able to accomplish il.
Q.-What do you think of the prob
ability of Ecmuuds and the Senate
! taking out some Of its essential fes-
I tures7
A--Edmuncs and the Republican party
may feel that The Democrats have stolen
| their thunder, and they may antsgon-
ize ii in order TO work II over again as 3
Republican measure.
Q.-Do you think Edmunds will be
inclined to hold out for the measure ap.
pointing trustees for the church?
| Al do not know but he VIII. Oh
course, there were serious legal Objec-
tons to the appointment of trustees in
the manner provided in his bill; but
the policy that has Nbeea adj
vocated By the Democratic party
while it Is different in some respects
amounts to the same thing. For in
lican measure that the thirteen trustees
who should manage the affairs OF tAe
church should be appointed by ihe
President. Their duties were to be to
wind up the affair of the corporation.
and woat property IL mad over $4,000
was TO be distributed among the district
schools. The Democrats, 10 accomplish
the same object, advocated different
policy. They provided that the Presi-
dent should appoint the probate judges,
and that the probate judges should ap-
point trustees for each church CORPORA.
ton in q county; that the act incorpo-
rating the Mormon church should be
repealed, and that the Attorney-Gen
eral should bring suit and wind up the
affairs Of the corporation, distributing
its property according 20 Law and
equity.
AQ.-The new bill reaches the same
ead, then?
Ayes, sir. exactly: only they ssvo
cate q different way of reaching the
same result. and their principal Object
in working il over was. IN my opinion
to give the Democratic party whatever
credit might result from the measure.
Q.-As the probate judges were to be
ppointed oy the President. they would
probably appoint outsiders" 10 man
age the affairs of the church,
A.-That would be the case In the sb-
sence OF any power requiring
that appointment TO be made
from the body Of the church
II il had been designed by the trainers