The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-12
TIE MORMON LEGISLATURE.
Governor Murray Vetoes the General
Appropriation Bill.
A Crisis Approaching in the Affairs
of the Mormons.

SALT LAKE CITY, March 1l.-GoVernor
Murray sent to the Legislature yesterday
veto of the general appropriation Dill he
says that notwithstanding the imperative
need of an appropriation to carry on tne
Territorial government he must decline 10
sign the bill because it contemplates the con-
tinuance in authority of the present incum-
bents of the offices of auditor and treasurer.
He says that the Legislature has constantly
sought to restrict the authority of the United
States in the Territory, and to expand the
local power.
After citing numerous cases of this kind,
the Governor says: 81 am asked either to
sanction these usurpations, or to allow the
Governor of the Territory to suffer for want
of the funds necessary to carry on the gov
ernment. [ do not hesitate as to my duty,
and fully accept the responsibility that the
duty imposes upon me"
He further calls attention to his efforts to
bring the laws and usageS of the Territory
into conformity with the national statutes.
all of which, he says, have been either
ignored altogether or neutrallzed Dy action
taken directly in opposition. He directs
attention to the wish of the American people
that Utah shall align herself with the pre-
vailing sentiment of the country, and says
that he has been met in all his efforts to im-
press the wishes of the national authorities
upon the attention of the people Of Utah by
the positive opposition OF those who claim 70
be the leaders of majority of the people OF
the Territory. '.They proclaim" he says,
'sthat the opposition is primarily to the laws
that | am sworn to uphold, and so lar as l
can to see faithfully executed. Because of
this, all the virus of the local press and pull
pit controlled by them has been poured out
upon me, as if were an offender instead OF
the executor of a law which it is our COM
mon duty to obey. Legislatures in the past
have been unmindful of my appeals, but now
| most respectfully invite your body to say
whether it would not have been wiser and
better for Utah and the Mormon people, who
compose so large majority OF Ine pOpula-
ton, if some of my appeals had been heard.
sIf you neglect to make proper provision
for the public interests, for the enforcement
of the laws, ETC., then those interested in the
preservation of good order must necessarily
be compelled to ask the general government
to take up such items as are necessary ana
right and make the appropriations which
you ought to make. The fact that there Is
determination to continue to use the power
of the Territorial government to uphold the
leaders in the organization of efforts to DEFY
the laws of Congress against polygamy, ana
maintain their pretensl0nS to dlctate IN tne
civil affairs of the Territory, must invite dis
cussions and differences on this or any like
measure between the Legislature and the
Governor. 1t is this that keeps us from
coming togetheri like Jealous public ser
wants, all striving for the common good
Our local government not only is not in har-
mony with the laws of the United States,
but it represents system which is in an
tagonism to any government which 1t does
not control.
"It is this idea of government, this defiance
Of lawful government, which 1 am asked to
acquiesce III, by appropriatiDg money to
maintain its purposes and support its inStru-
ments In signing this bill am asked to
assist the local power of this Territory In
trampling under its feet the laws OF the
United States, to spurn the decisions of the
Supreme Court, and to disregard the opinion
of the Attorney General of the United
States and md own. am asked to give the
revenues of this Territory, collected from
all classes, into the hands of those who have
been held in place in direct opposition to the
plain law of Congress under an illegal
statute of this Territory and a void election
held year ago, whose pretended terms nave
long since expired, and whose suretles IN the
event of malfeaSance or defalcatlon in office
could escape all pecuniary responsibility or
loss. The public funds of this Territory
have long enough been kept in the office of
the president of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints. The conjunction Of
the public money and the ecclesiastical
authority of its guardian. is q bad # not an
unsafe practice. They should be divorced
and honestly kept apart. An objection near
akin to my own is that nearly half OF the
IOGdl ldpprOprldllOHS prONlueu 1OI, dltol paoo-
ing through the hands of the usurping
auditor and treasurer, are finally dls6ursed
by boards chosen in manner equally III
violation Of the law of Congress"
The Governor concludes as follows: Il
have only to say that / will not consent to
the expenditure of one dollar Of the public
funds by unlawful agencies This Territory
has been permitted to defy the laws and
courts long enough. 1t must either cease to
do so, or with my consent it shall not longer
cover its disregard of the laws of my country
under the forms of Territorial statutes. l
and herewith return the same without my