, 1886-01-09
THE MORMON BILL.
Discussed and Finally Passed
by the Senate.
Escaped Convicts Pursued by
Bloodhounds.
Sheridan Believes Crook Will
Wipe out the Apaches.
Debate on the Mormon BIZ.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-Senator Nor
gan again called attention to the 18th
section. which provides for fourteen trus-
tees to administer the property, business
affairs and operations of the corporation
known As the "Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints" He wanted to know
what their duties we're. and why the bill
was silent as to their salaries. He de-
manded an answer from his fellow mem
bers of tie Judiciary committee. Sena-
tor Edmunds replied that Mr.. Morgan
should have an answer MIR. Moran
saw no authority in congress to apr o Mt
trustees to manage a church business. He
characterized such trustees as Mug
wump" Mormons. They would be oc-
cupied necessarily, he said, in promoting
Mormonism as he interpreted tho
bill under consideration. for the trustees
to exercise all the powers granted by the
territorial laws creating the corporation.
Edmunds replied they had nothing what
ever to do with church matters or matters
Of faith, but only with properly, u sc
that the church moneys which were
enormous were not applied to the propo-
cation of ~polygamy. Not one quarter Of
the Mornons, as EJmunds understood,
had believed in polsgamy. Senator TEL
Ter inquired if the Mormon church moneys
we're now applied illegally, that is in vio-
lation OF the charter of that church.
Senator E1munds replied he believed
they we're. Mr.. Teller asked how. Mr..
Edmunds answered They are used
for the purpose Of inducing and securing
immigration hat may contribute to the
lusts OF those vagabonds." Senator
Maxcy supported the bill. He held
that Murmonism was a mere cover for
RIGHTEOUSNESS. He thought the
judiciary committee had Disseminated
with great skill between RELIGIOUS
liberty and secular license. Senator Call
said we owed our liberties to freedom OF
speech and worship. We were departing
frum that ground when we passed such a
bill as that under consideration. A Nor
mon has as much right to proclaim his
faith as the distinguished man who de
MES the divinity Of Christ" The rea son
why the MOrmons had become so success
ful, he thought, was because of its great
activity as a secular organization. Ii had
gone abroad over the earth and drawn
people frOm misery and poverty, and
brought them to a land OF plenty. 1t was
no wonder, under such circumstances.
that it had become successful, but these
people could now be brought under the
influence of the Christian religion. The
ministrations of that religion we're suth-
cient to conquer the Mormons and would
do so more completely and happily than
the bill before the senate could. Some
amendments by Senator Call we're voted
down. As the bill was about to be
brought to a vote. Senator Morgan said
its friends seemed determined 10 press it
without giving its opponents a chance to
study it He again inquired as to the
salaries which the commissioners were to
have; he did not want TO send fourteen
men out TO Utah to loot the Mormon
church. He had announced his determin-
alton to wipe this church out and leave
nothing OF it but a name and an unholy
memory. but had been met by a PROPOSE
ton in this bill to perpetuate the church.
While the bill was on its final passage,
Van Wyck endeavored to fix the duties
Of the proposed fourteen trustees upon
the members of the present Utah commits
sion, but was ruled out Of order. He
asked Senator Edmunds whether he had
any objection to such an amendment. to
which that senator answered that he had.
The bill having been brought to a vote,
was passed; yeas, IS, nays, Z.
Senator Hoar in explaining his vote,
sand he voted against the bill only because
Of the section DISTINGUISHING women, but
even with hat section in, he would have
voted for the bill had his vote been neces
sary to its passage.
Adjourned till Monday.