Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-25
1T ALL TENDS one WAY.


On Thursday last the Senate, as in
Committee of the Whole, resumed con-
sideration of the bill, introduced by SEN
ator Blair of New Hampshire, to aid in
the establishment and temporary support
of common schools. Attention was called
to the fact that Section of the bill pro-
vided "that the money appropriated and
apportioned under the provisions of this
act to the use of any Territory shall be
applied to the use of common and indus
trial schools therein by the Secretary OF
the Interior" Senator Plumb objected
to this section, on the ground that it was
proposed to make the Secretary of the
Interior "the sole arbiter, the only per-
son qualified to perform any act in regard
to the distribution or use of this money!"
etc, and moved an amendment 'to take
away this power from the Secretary of
the Interior and put it where it belongs"
in the hands of the Legislatures of the
Territories.
The debate on this amendment as
sumed very interesting turn, in which
frequent mention of the school system in
Utah was made. Senator Blair was not
in favor of the proposed amendment, and
in stating his reasons for retaining this
power in the hands of the Secretary of
the Interior, gave our local Legislature
the following blast:
In the Territory of New Mexico and in the
Territory of Utah it would be very difficult
to insure the application of these funds
through the local Legislature to the equal
benefit of common schools. If this money
should fall into the hands of Mormon
Legislature it is quite apparent that it would
hardly be applied to the support of the COM
mon schools which are being built up in the
Territory of Utah against Mormon influence,
for the purpose, SO far as they may have in
fuence, of the counteraction of the system
of polygamy. L think it is true that we shall
have to rely very largely, perhaps as largely
as upon any other influence or power what
ever, on the common schools, the effect of
education properly conducted on the rising
population in the Territory of Utah, for tine
spread of sentiment which will result in
the extinction of that crime. 1t
certainly would not be wise to trust a dollar
to the expenditure of Mormon Legisla-
ture.
Replying to these remarks, Senator
Teller said he did not believe the moneys
appropriated and apportiened by this bill
could possibly be used by the Secretary
OF the Interior with the discretion and
with the judgment that it would be used
by the authorities of the Territories, and
he saw no reason why anybody should
object to Territorial Legislatures determin-
ing as to the disposition OF the money.
81 do not know" said he, "that you
should make bad rule for all the Ter
ritories simply because there is con-
dition OF affairs in Utah that may be
Objectionable"
Senator Blair, however, insisted that
the Territorial authorities of Utah ought
not to be permitted to handle this money,
and in response to Senator Teller's re-
marks, said:
The Senator says he has no doubt that if
it goes to the Legislature of the Territory
of Utah, it will 90 to give instruction to
Mormonism, The whole amount that will
be contributed to the enlargement of the
borders of that institution, according to the
Senator's suggestion, if his desire is to be
complied with. in the course of the next
eight years, would be $1O9,363.10 If the
Secretary of the Interior distributes that
money it will go to the maintenance of a
system of schools under what are known as
GENTLE influences, which Congregational,
Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Cath
ollc religious societies are assisting in main
tanning in that Territory. 1t will have
little tendency to break down the institu-
ton known as Mormonism, so far as it has
any influence at all.
Senator Plumb suggested that if there
was to be an exception made at all,
why not say that we except Utah and
provide seme other method of distribu-
ton in that Territory" The amendment,
however, was finally agreed to without |
an exception being made in the case of |
Utah, and since it is pretty sure thing
that no more Mormon Legislatures will |
convene in Utah, the strong objection
that otherwise would have held good
against giving this money into the charge
of such body, is now done away with. |
But all this goes to show that the Nor
mon Church and its peculiar institutions
have at last developed into most pow
erful stink in the nostrils OF the whole |
people of the country, and that prepara-
tons are now ripe for putting the corrupt
thing under a good many feet OF deodoriz-
ing earth, where it ought to have been
placed a quarter of century ago.