Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-10-19


homesteaders, it would tend to encour-
age and develop these valuable and grow
ing interests. 1t may be possible to
make classification OF public lands so
as to enable stockmen to acquire the use
of land which can never be used for other
than grazing purposes.
PUBLIC LANDS.
\ comparative statement of the bust
ness transacted in the United States
Land Office for the two years commenc-
ing July 1st, 1884, and ending June 3Oth,
1886.
The silk industry is then mentioned at
some length.
PUBLIC BUILDING.
A public building for the accommoda-
ton of the District and Supreme Courts,
Postoflice and Land Office, and the other
Government Offices is much needed mere
for the speedy and convenient dispatch
of public business. An appropriation for
this purpose would be justifiable by rea-
son OF economy if no other existed. The
Government is now paying rents and al
lowances to officers for rents in this city,
the sum OF 1920.
A situation could be procured and suit
able buildings could be erected for proba-
bly, 100000. | would recommend the
appropriation of that sum for the purpose.
TERRITORIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
A statement is here made OF the Terri
torial finances showing total OF Sl54,-
442S 80 lying idle in the treasury. The
statement is followed by this:
Unless some provision is made this
| Ia WOO e,,,,, will ron, in iIln II,
while the obligations of the Territory will
remain unpaid impairing its credit, and
| leaving its citizens, who have attended
its courts as jurors and witnesses, without
compensation, very many OF whom are
poor, and lily able to bear it, to become
the prey OF crafty spectators who will
| take advantage OF their needs; its educa-
| tional and humane institutions to main
tain their existence by borrowing money
at the high rate of 10 per cent. per annum
interest, thus imposing an additional bur-
den upon the Territory, and allowing the
other various interests, this money is
raised to serve, to languish.
THE ALL-ABsoRBING QUESTION.
The all-absorbing question in this Ter
ritory, dominating all others, hurtfully
affecting its prosperity and impeding its
advancement, and disturbing the quiet
and hopefulness OF its people, and the
one question of the utmost concern and
solicitude to the whole country, is the
attitude of defiance assumed and main
tanned by the Mormon people, who
probably are five-sixths OF the whole
population, by the law of Congress for
the suppression of polygamy, known as
"the Edmunds law"
In all questions affecting the Mormon
Church and people, the polygamist and
monogamist, Mormons, make common
cause, stand together and are united
They maintain publicly through theil
leaders and teachers, in their houses Of
worship, through the press, and pri.
vately, in social and business circles, that
the law is infamous; an interference
with and denial to them of their re-
ligious freedom, guaranteed them by
the Constitution; of their right
and religious duty, to continue, in
violation of the law, their polygamous
relations. They deny the authority Of
Congress to regulate and interpose any
restrictions as to the marital relations
That the obligations which they owe and
will cheerfully render to a power higher
than any earthly power, compels them tc
exercise their religious rights and priv
leges in the face of and in violation of the
law; that they are prepared to, and vii
il required OF them, sacrifice their per
sonal comfort, their property suffer in
definite imprisonment, and surrender life
itself, rather than yield and promise
obedience to the law, and forego thu
privileges they claim.
The Government can have and hole
hat lie,
which is OF easy statement: Its authority
must be respected, its laws must b.
obeyed
ENFORC EMENT OF THE LAWS.
The Governor states that the Fedora
officials have been and continue vigilan
in their efforts to enforce the law. The
District and Supreme Courts have beer
open, and dispose of business promptly
From July |, 1884, to June 80, 1885, fo
polygamy and unlawful cohabitation, nine
convictions we're had, eight of the person!
residing in Salt Lake and one in Beaver
county. From July |, 1885, to June 80
1886, three convictions for polyagmy anC
eighty-one for unlawful cohabitation were
had. OF the eghty-four persons con
victed, fifty-one resided in Salt Lake
eleven in Weber, eight in Beaver, five il
Tooele, four in Davis, three in Box Elder
and one each in Utah and Sewer coun.
ties. These convictions have been haC
in eight out of twenty-four counties in the
Territory. In the remaining sixteer
counties the Mormon population is largely
in the ascendancy, and believe in anC
practice polygamy as well as in othe
counties.
Temples have been built at st. George
Manti and Logan. Here celestial plura
marriages are celebrated. Heretofore
terms OF court have been held only a
Salt Lake, Ogden, Provo and Beaver
AS the condition of business will permit
the Governor says he will provide TO
terms Of court to be held at st. George
Manti and Logan. He further says tina
while vigor has been shown in the prose
cution OF offenders, the courts will sus
pend judgment and allow the convicted
party to 90 free if he will promise in thu
future to obey the law. He also refer
to his visit to the Penitentary shortl,
after reaching the Territory, when the
hope OF clemency was held out to those
convicted OF polygamy and unlawful co
habitation who would promise to obey
the law in the future, but not one accept
ed the offer.
To secure more satisfactory enforce.
ment of the laws in Utah, he recon
mends that the United States Marshal bC
paid a salary OF $1,000, and all fees be
abolished. He recommends one deputy
at $1,000, one at 81 800, and that al
other deputies be paid "a per day while
employed. The Governor, Justices o
the Supreme Court and District Attor
| to Ia fl ,,,,I