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
troduced resolution, which was agree
to, directing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to "report the balance due the Unite,
States from Utah on account OF money
advanced for court expenses" and late
in the day the same gentleman intro
duced bill, which was referred to th'
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' 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 disbursed as indicated in Mr..
Cullom's resolutions, and he urged that
provision be made at this session fer
liquidating the debt. Rhe Legislature,
however, has been in session for fifty
five days and as yet not move has been
made toward making any such pro-
vision 1t is doubtful, indeed, if the
members of the Legislature have
at any time given the matter
second thought, and it is questionable
if, 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 INDUCED 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 llquldate these bills is nonsensical in the
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 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
is denied the ordinary rights and privileges
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 It ,
quite as well and undoubtedly as long as the
Government can. Meanwhile, Governor
Murray might as well understand, that SO
far as Utah is concerned, it is immaterial
whether the debt against her on the National
Treasury books is $685., 900 or as many mil
lions. 1t is a case where the creditor can
take it out in charging.
Uncle Samuel is most indulgent +,
guardian, but it is quite evident that he !;
begins to realize that the Territory of /,
Utah, under Mormon control, has shame
ully abused his indulgence. He doesn't 6
propose to take out his just dues in merely !
harging, as this miserable Mormon
'pologist for dishonesty says he will have ;,
o do, but he proposes to be reimbursed :,
full for all the sums he has advanced, ;,
nd if a Mormon Legislature will not 9
eturn him his money, a Gentle Legis- =
ature will. By Withholding the compen- =,
alton of the officers and members of the =
resent Assembly, some twenty odd !
housand dollars will have been covered :,
ack into the treasury, and that will be !
'arter for the liquidation of the whole
He must be an ignoramus indeed who, s.
ke the Herald man, advances the idea W
at the Territory cannot be compelled al
pay such Indebtedness as this. If a Il
'rritory can construe its own sins of
mission into good cause for repudiating % %
Indebtedness in a case like this, then ns y,
i've we reached pretty pass indeed. 90
ne money will have to be paid dollar fu
dollar, and it is the height of absurd tn
for the members of the Legislature TO tn
ok against the pricks and not expect to fir
t their toes hurt. an
tn.