Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-15
A DAY IN THE SENATE
WHAT THE LAWMAKERS ARE BUSY
ING THEMSELVES ABOUT.
Civil Service StilI u Bone of Contention
The Utah Bill Comes up for Discussion
Strong Sentiments of senator Nor
gan-Other Capital News.

WASIIINGTON, Jan. i.-Alter tne reading
of the journal this morning Senator Noor-
hees offered resolution reciting in its
preamble that the commissioner of pen
sions in his annual report stated that, at
one time, the pension bureau was all but
an avowedly political machine filled, with
uncompromising adherents of a single or
ganization (meanin9 the Republican
party and that the claimants were often
required to support the Republican party,
as condition upon which pensions
should issue. The resolution instruCts
the committee on expenditures of public
money to inquire into the truth of these
allegations, and confers power to sen d for
the persons and papers. Logan had moth
ing to say against the commissioner of
pensions, whom he respected highly but
he wished the resolution enlarged SO as to
include further investigation. He said
Col. Fred Stevenson, gallant wounded
soldier had been removed from his posi-
ton at the demand of a Democratic mem
Der of Congress, no charge having been
made, the only reason known being that
he had supported an independent Demo
cratic candidate for Congress in OPPOSE
ton to the man who had him removed.
Voorhees, accepted the amendment and
AT O'Clock the Utah bill came up and
Senator Morgan addressed the Senate in
support of the amendment offered by nm
providing for the disposal of the property
of the Mormon church, according to the
rules and principles of the common law,
as in the case of a dissolution OF cor
poration. He felt, he said. that I'VE
ought to strike the Mormon church organ
iZation out of existence, instead OF APP
pointing trustees for its management.
Congress should cut up the organization
root and branch" Call did not believe
Congress had any right to destroy the re-
ligious establishment of the Mormons.
The Christian sentiment of the country
and the organized laws, if enforced were
sufficient for dealing with polygamy.
Morgan did not feel that we were dealing
with an establishment of religion" 1t
might pass as religion" in China or i'll
the valley of the Congo; here it was AN
establishment not of religion, but of vice.
The sentiment of the whole people was
against it, as opposed to the spirit OF our
national constitution. Teller said he was
anxious to see polygamy eNtlrpated, but
wanted it done under the form and color
of law He regarded Joseph Smith as an
arrant knave and his system an odious
olgarchy and a despotism that must be
wiped out But if we could justify the
transgresslon of law i'll this instance,
we could in others. He briefly re
viewed the history of the Mormons and
referred to the hardshps suffered by
them in their successive removals. No
man, he thought, could read that history
without feeling some little sympathy. Not
that he need approve the ideas but recog-
nizing, at least, that they were possessed
of a determination to exercise their re-
ligiouS belief, IL determination that had
made the Anglo Saxon race great and
powerful, though sometimes it may be eX-
ercised in "A wicked cause, He hoped he
would have accorded to him, honesty of
purpose in what he said, i'll defense of a
people who were without friends. He
could bear testimony 10 their virtue with
out endorsing their vices
Considerable debate eusued rs TO the
legal affect of the provisions relating tC
the testimony 10 De gwen ny hu9'"liu'
in.t NEithnnf tn7rII,din,t thr' rnusidrrl
ton of the bill the senate adjourned.
WAsUlNGroN, Jan. l2.--Iu the Senate
to-day the president pro TEN asked per
mission to. he absent after tomorrow fol
boro,,,,ird.,. of the wool, aud that Senn
90. .'iN,i.,,,l,iin ,,i..+.,.,I -,
lor Ha"IeA ne 9"p9'il"'''' III ms ''0'',' 90
presiding Olllctr during lhal lihe' Con
sent was given. pugh resumed his re
marks ON pncl,'s silver resolution au(
~ ,,,lI,,, ,. to1 io;rod III,
SOU ny ~ i, LSta," .,tnS in do
80 - -, - tI,o ai,,,o
ll'HulhE Ine suSPSn1loil vi nv . o'iNs
to depreciate silver was one of the grand