Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-01-13
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

The Governors message has been de-
livered to the Legislature and is now be-
fore the people. The document is very
fair as whole, but entirely too diffusve
in the treatment OF the local question.
We have reference more particularly to
the first part OF the message, fully one
third being devoted to the question here.
That part of the message which treats
OF the "fruits OF ccclesiasticism" is very
good. When Governor Murray says
az have in my possession circular signed
by the Presidency of the Church of Latter
day Saints, which in set terms designates
the Territorial Central Committee of the
Peoples party rs the instrument through
which to raise funds to defeat the laws in
Utah, Idaho and Arizona, thus making the
politics of the people subject to the direct
dictation of ecclesiastical authority"
there is no answering the fact. That
single fact proves conclusively that there
is a union of Church and State in Utah
Territory and that the church is given
precedence. A document very similar to
the one spoken of by the Governor ap-
peared in The Euening Ne,ps, the official
organ of the Mormon church, May 18th,
1884. The subject OF that manifesto was
the change OF time throughout the Terri
tory, making it conform to the then new
standard time. The Presidency of the
Mormon church spoke to and advised the
Territorial and municipal officials as those
having authority in such matters; and
they have, too.
The four questions propounded to the
Legislature are vital ones, and can only
be answered in the affirmative. 1t was
shrewd on the part of the Governor to
PROFOUND these questions, for they place
the Legislature in u position in which
they must answer yes or no or make no
answer whatever, which would be equal
toan admission OF the things asked by the
Governor. The Legislature may excuse
themselves from answering either yes
or no by saying that the Governor is
not the proper person to ask such
questions, and that they do not
properly have to do with their duties as
Legislators. They are in fact as much a
part of the Territorial Government as the
Governor himself, and consequently may
stand on their privileges as such and re-
fuse to heed the Governors questions.
We believe the Governor is right in his
claim that to him belongs the appoint
ment OF the Auditor of Public Accounts,
Superintendent Of District Schools and
Territorial Treasurer, such appointments
to be by and with the advice of the Coun-
Gil. We believe in the Legislature stand
ing up for their rights as against the Ex-
ccutive, but in this matter we look
upon the heretofore assertion of the
right OF the Legislature to appoint the
officers cited as nothing but captiousness
and perversity. 1t would become the
present Legislature to gracefully acqui-
esce in the right OF the Governor to APP
point to these three offices. If bad ap-
pontments should be made it is the duty
OF the Council to refuse to confirm them.
The marriage law whose enactment
the Governor recommends is good SO far
asi goes. This bill being before Con-
gress for enactment, it is proper to rec
ommerd action on it by the local Legis-
lature, but We question the propriety of
Incorporating the bill in toto in a Guber-
material message. The bill is lacking in
not requiring registration of births.
1t is impossible to review the message
in detail. The recommendations are gem
orally very good, and we may mention
particularly the recommendations as to
public offenses, the militia, house of
correction, live stock and public build
ings. Recommendations on other mat
tiers OF equal importance should have
been made. On the whole the message
is quite good, and ii some of its more
important recommen dations are enacted
into laws, they will do much to settle the
Utah question. We shall take occasion
to refer to the message another time.