The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-07
THE ANrI-POLYGAMY BILL.

The House Judiciary Committee Proposes
Several Radical Amendments
WASHINGTON, June 5.-The House judiciary
committee to day agreed to report favorably the
Edmunds anti ti-polygamy bill. with many amend
ments some of which are of a radical nature.
The bill as it came from the Senate compelled
the lawful wife of the person accused of poly
gamy to testify against him. The committee
propose to amend the bill in that respect so as to
make the wife a competent witness, but not to
compel her to testify or permit her to testify 40
to any confidential matter contrary to the
rule of common law The change in the
statute of limitations in the bill as it came from
the Senate is stricken out and tbs second section
of the bill relating to the attachment against
witnesses is amended so as to authorize the
issue of such attachments only where il is nec-
essary as shown by the oath of two creditabla
witnesses The section requiring the record of
all marriages is retained, but the fifth section.
which authorizes the examination of private
records of marriages, IS stricken out. Ths
section prohibiting female suffrage is re-
tained intact A material changs
which authorizes the appointment OF
fourteen trustees to act in conjunction with ths
thirteen trustees of the Mormon Church in adj
ministering it's affairs. In its place the COM
mittee has inserted section annnling the act
The charter of the Perpetual Emigration Fund
Society is also annnlled, and the society is dis.
solved. and it is made the duty of the Attorney
general to proceed in the Supreme Court of ths
Territory to effect the dissolution, pay the debta
and dispose of the property of the society ac-
cording to the laws of equity.
The bill provides penalties for the crimes OF
adultery, incest polygamy, polygamous associa-
tion and cohabtation between the sexes-ths
last named in the same terms as is proposed in
the constitutional amendment submitted by tha
committee. Tho Office of Territorial Superin.
tendent Of Schools is abolished. and new Office
is created in its place, to be filled by a commits
sioner of schools to be appointed by the Govern
or. The provisions of the original bill touch
ing dover and recognizing the claims
of the first wife are retained. 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 Ali
laws in reference to the militia Of the Territory
creating the Northern Legion are annullcd and
all general officers of the militia are required to
be appointed by the Governor, by and with the
advice of his Council while the Legislative AS
sembly of the Territory is authorized to pass
laws providing for the organization of the
militia, subject to the approval Of Congress.
The bill makes the Council of the Territory
to consist. now. Of thirteen members. to 5a
appointed by the President. by and with tha
advice and consent of the Senate, ofcitizens res-
ident in the Territory. one to be selected from
each district, as now provided by the law 1t is
provided that the chief officers Of the Territory
shall be appointed by the President and cons
irmed by the Senate, and the minor Offices by
the Governor, by and with the advics
and consent Of the Council To each
religious society and denomination ID
given tho right to hold. through trustees ap-
pointed by the county courts of the Territory.
ten acres of land in the towns and fifty acres in
the country for houses Of worship. for the res
idences of minister's priests and religious teach.
ers but il is provided that no such society shall
mol mo n
than $50. .000 It is provided that all laws grant
ing timber or herd rights on any part OF the pub-
lie domain to any person or corporation shall be
annulled and declared void. and the Attorney
general is directed 70 enforce this provision.
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, tho paine OF his lawful
wife; take an oath that ho Will support the Con-