The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-01

committee of both houses OF Congress. In its
utes prohibit and provide for the punishment of
bigamy. polygamy and unlawful cohabtation
In the Territories, and for disqualification of
persons guilty of such offenses to vote or hold
Office; that the act of giving aid, counsel advice
or encouragement, and thereby procuring the
commission of such offenses, should be made a
crime punishable with equal penalties; that
there exists in Utah sect which in Its creed
holds as one of its fundamental principles, and
as a sacramento rite, the right and duty Of its
members to practice unlawful cohabitation; that
thehigh priests and leaders and members thereof,
claiming to be inspired by, and acting IN obe-
dience to. authority superior to the United
States, do openly and publicly counsel. advise
and command the members of said sect to com
NIT said offenses in open and professed defiance
and contempt of the laws of the United States,
and by reason Of such counsel, advice and com
nand, thousands of the members of said sect
have been induced to commit said offenses, and
are now living and cohabiting with plurality of
socalled wives and concubines, but escape pun
ishment for said offenses by secret intrigue and
che various corrupt influences which the posses
sion of political majorities enables the leaders of
said sect to exercise-all of which brings thu
laws and authority of the United States into
disgrace and contempt and renders the same of
no effect The bill is as follows:
Section l. That no person who shall. here
after directly or indirectly, counsel, encourage
or advise others to marry, have consort or CO.
habit with any person other than his or her law
full wife or husband who is a member, or shall
q a IN 70 or
association, or any description whatever. which
authorizes counsels, encourages permits any
OF its members to marry, have consort or cohabit
with more than one woman at the same time,
shall vote at any election held in any Territory
of the United States, be eligible for election
or appointment to- or be entitled to hold any
Office or place of public trust, honor enelu-
ment in, under or for any Territory of the United
States of America or under the United States
In either of said Territories, nor shalIsany such
person be entitled to locate or make settlement
upon, or acquire title to any of the lands of the
public domain of the United States of America,
or be eligible to serve as juror in or for any
court in either of said Territories.
Sec. 2. That no person in either of the Terri
tories Of the United States shall be registered
. voter, or vote at any election, who, upon being
challenged upon either of the grounds set forth
In Sectionl of this act, shall refuse to take and
subscribe the following oath:
do solomnly swear that Gf mem do not CO.
habit with more than woman if woman) with
Z man having more than one living and undivorced wife,
and that do not, directly indirectly counsel aid
encourage advise others to marry have consort
cohabit with more than woman at and the
same time. and that / not q member, and do not
contribute the support of any organization or
citation which Authorizes counses encourages or per-
n1ts any of its members to marry, have, consort
cohabit with than at and the
same time, under any form, pretense whatso-
ever, SO help me God.
Sec g. That il any person who shall take the
oath set forth in Section 2 of this act, either
to qualify as voter, Juror or to hold Office or
iecate upon the public lands, shall swear falsely.
such person shall be guilty of perjury and on
conviction thereof shall be punished by fine
not exceeding $1,000 aud be imprisoned for a
time not exceeding fourteen years nor less than
six months.
Sec. 4 That every person elected or appointed
ument under or for any Territory of the United
States or under the United States in either of said
Territories, shall before entering upon the duties
of said Office. in addition to the usual oath of
Office, lakeland subscribe the oath set forth in
Section of this act.
Sec. 8. That every person who shall hereafter
locate or make settlement upon any of the lands
of the public domain, or seek to acquire title
thereto, shall take and subscribe to the oath set
forth In Section 2 of this act, before the proper
officer of the general land department in the dis
trict in WHICH such lands may be situated.
Sec 6. That all pollSor registry lists exist
ing, or kept under the laws Of any of the Terri
tories of the United States prior thereto, are
kereby declared void, and the proper registra-
ton boards, commissioners, supervisors or Off
GERS Of election in the several Territory les are
hereby empowered and directed, before general
election shall be held in their respective Terri
tories election districts, to prepare new lists
vote or hold Office urder the provisions Of this
act