Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-06-07
THE NEW EDMUNDs BILL.

The Judiciary Committee OF the House
are expected to favorably report back
to-day the Edmunds Utah bill, with
numerous and some most radical amend
ments. 1t is hardly probable, we think,
that both houses of Congress will give
their sanction to the bill as it will be re-
turned to them, but il it should be ac-
cepted and passed, in anything like its
present shape, it will work the complete
and sudden collapse of polygamy, and
desirable reversal OF the present political
situation in the Territory.
The most important of the amend
ments, in Il political sense, is the one re-
quring all persons who register as voters,
to take an oath, before their name is
placed on the list, to support the Consti-
tuition OF the United States and to obey
the law, and the laws previously passed
against polygamy. II this amendment
shall become part oil the law, its effect
will be instantaneous and sweeping, as
who of the thousands OF unrepentant
Mormons can take such an oath? The
natural result will be that the Gentle
minority will come to the front and here
after have something to say in shaping
the affairs OF this Territory.
The section which gives the President,
the Senate concurring, the power OF APP
pointing thirteen men who shall consti-
tute the Council of the Territory of Utah,
is fraught with great promise to the de-
spised and unrepresented Gentiles, in
that the President would naturally appoint
non-Mormons and Democrats, and, as
under another section, the Council will
have n concurrent voice with the Cover
nor in appointing all Territorial, county
and district officers, it naturally follows
that clean sweep will be the result in
Zion, and there will be weeping and
wailing and gnashing OF teeth in conse-
quence, among the Mormon Office hold
ers who have learned to look upon office
rs birth right, and who seem to have
never dreamed OF the possible or probable
fact OF Gentle stepping in and ousting
them.
The provision which makes it impossi
BILE for any religious society to own more
than ten acres OF land and buildings
ETC., Of the value OF more than $50 900
will put quietus on the construction o
the great temple and relieve the Mormon
people OF the constant strain on their re-
sources, which that building has caused
The most sweeping amendment, ant
the one most to be feared by those wh'
will be liable under it, is the one declar
ing polygamy and all polygamous prac
making it punishable with five years
imprisonment The fact that such al
amendment has been framed, and con
Cured in by the full Judiciary Commit
tee, is tantamount to its passage or adop
ton, rs every member OF the committe
is a lawyer Of the first standing, Will,
many OF them have national reputation
as jurists. The construction placed upol
this amendment is similar to that nov
enforced by the Territorial courts, i.e
all acts OF the kind committed after
conviction has been had shall form sufi
cient cause for another Indictment an
trial, and can be so continued indef
nitely.
The whole OF the proposed amendment
SAVIOR strongly OF determination amonl
Congressman to eflectually bar the pra,
tce OF this odous custom in this Terri
tory, and though the aid OF a powerfl
and moneyed lobby has been given
defeat that end, it now looks as ii the fiji
has gone forth pronouncing the doom {
polygamy and the end OF Mormon ten
poral rule. The beneficial effects OF sue
q consummation on the welfare oi Uta
can hardly be estimated. Instead OF ht
beautiful valleys being looked upon ,
curiosities by tourists, they won Id swarl
with the money and metal OF new bloc
from the East, and few years woul
suffice to place her in the front rank
growing commercial centers. The cankt
worm OF religious fanaticism once +,
moved from her borders, and there is I
country under the sun so sure OF a dazzlir
future as is Utah.