The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-09
THE ANTI-POLYGAMY BILL
To Be Reported Favorably to the House on
Monday With Amendments.

WASHINGTON, June 5.-The House Judiciary
Committee to-day agreed to report favorably the
Edmunds anti-Polygamy bill with amendments,
some OF which are of a radical nature. The bill
as il came from the Senate compelled the lawful
wife of the person accused of polygamy to testify
against him. The committee propose to amend
the bill in that respect so as to make the wife a
competent witness, but Ret to compel her testi-
mOny or permit her TO testify as to any eoRfden-
tial 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
the second section OF the bill relating to the at
tachment against witness is amended So as to au-
thoTize the issue of such attachments only where
it is necessary as shown by the oath OF two credit
The section requiring the record of all mar
riages is retained, but the fifth section which
authorizes the exam ination OF private records of
marriages, is stricken out. The secting prohibit
ing female suffrage is retained intact A material
change is made in the twelfth section, which
authorizes the appointment OF fourteen Trustees
to act in conjunction with the thirteen Trustees
of the Mormon Church in administering its
affairs. In its place the committee has inserted
section annulling the act of corporation of the
church, ond dissolving it. The charter OF the
perpetual immigration fund is also annulled and
the society is dissolved, and it is made the duty
of the Attorney General to proceed in the Su.
preme Court OF the territory to effect the dissolu
ton pay the debts and dispose of the property of
the society according to the laws of equity. The
bill provides penalties for the crimes OF adultery
cohabitation between the sexes the last named in
the same terms as is proposed in the COnstitu
tional amendment submitted by the committee
The office Of TERRITORIAL superintendent OF
in its place, to be filled bya Commissioner OF
Schools to be appointed by the Governor
. The provisions of the original bill touching
are retained. An additional section gives the
President power to grant amnesty as to all crimes
created by this act as well as by the original Ed
mun0S act. All laws in reference To the militia
OF the Territory creating the Northern Legion are
aDnuIled, aud all general officers of the militia
are required to be appointed by the Governor by
and with the advice of his official counsel, and
the Legislative Assembly of the Territory Is au-
thorzed to pass laws for the organizing OF militia
Ii is provided that the chief officers Of the Terri
tory shall be appointed by the President aud con-
firmed by the Senate, and the minor officers by
the Governor by and with the advice and consent
OF the Council. To each religious society and de-
nomination is given the right to hold through
trustees appointed by the County Courts OF the
fifty acres in the country Tor houses
of worship for residences OF minis
ters priests and religious teachers but
this hold more property in money value than
$4,000. 1t is provided that all laws granting
lie domain to any person or corporation shall be
annulled and declared void and the Attorney
General is directed to enforce this provision.
Every male person in the Territory is required
toappear before the Clerk OF the Probate Court
in the county where he may reside and register
bis full name state whether he is married or sin
gle and If married the name of his lawful wife,
take an oath that ne will support the Constitu-
ton OF and obey the laws of the United States,
and especially the laws in respect 70 the crimes
defined in this and the original Edmunds act,
and that he will not directly or indirectly aid or
advise any person to commit such crime. No
person not so registered, or who shall have been
convicted OF any of the crimes specified, or who
shall be a P0lygamist or associate or cohabit
polygam0usly, or who shall not take the Oath
aforesaid, shall be entitled TO vote, sit on any
jury or hold any Office in the Territory. The bill
as amended will be reported to the House on
Monday.