The Indianapolis journal., 1886-01-08
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
The Senate Again Discusses the Utah
Bill, but Fails to Reach a Vote.
Senator Teller Argues in Favor of the Con-
stitutional Rights Of the Mormons-End
of the Call of States in the House.
Interesting Debate sfr. Hoar's Utah Bill
"A Vote Not Reached.

Interesting Debate on Mr Hoar's Utah Bill
A Vote Not Reached.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE Chair laid before
che Senate a letter from the Secretary of War.
transmitting petition from the West Point stu
dents who are to be graduated in June, 1885,
praying that provision may be made for their
appointment to the army. It was referred to
the committee on military affairs.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Henderson was
agreed to, calling on the Secretary Of the Inte-
rior for information as to whether any surveys Of
public lands have been made within the last
two years; whether there are any unsnrveyed
public lands in Nebraska: what recommends
lions have been made within the last three
years by the surveyor general of that district as
TO continuance. of said Office, and whether II IA
advisable to discontinue the Office OF surveyor
general.
Mr. Dolph, from the committee on commere,
reported favorably bill extending to the city OF
Portland, Ore, the provisions of the law of 1885,
relating to the immediate transportation of
dutiable goods also, similar bills relating to
Omaha, Neb. and Port Townsend, Ore. The
bills. on Mr.. Dolph's motion, We're at once passed
Mr Voorhees, offered a substitute for res
olution recently offered by his colleague, one
citing IN its preamble that the Commissioner of
Pensions, in his annual report. had stated that at
one time the Pension Bureau was all but avow-
edy apoiitical machine, filed with uncompro-
missing adherents of single organization-mean-
ing the Republican-and that claimants were
often required to support the Republican party
as a condition upon which pensions should issue.
The resolution instructs the committee on ex-
pendtures of public money to inquire into the
truth of the allegations, and confers power to
send for persons and paper.
Mr. Logan had nothing to say against the Com
missioner of Pensions whom he respected high
ly, but he wished the resolution enlarged SO as
to include investigation of the present ad-
ministration Of the Office. He said that COL Fred
Stevenson. gallant wounded soldier, had been
removed from his position at the head of a divis-
ion of the Office at the demand of a Democratic
member of congress. No charge had been made
against him and the only reason known for his
removal was that he had supported an indepen
dent Democratic candidate for congress in oppo-
sition to the who had him removed.
Mr. Voorhees, accepted the amendment offered
by Senator Logan: and the resolution went over
for one day.
At 2 o'clock the Utah bill came up. and Sena-
tor Morgan addressed the Senate upon it. He
spoke in support of the amendment offered by
him, providing for the disposal of the property
of the Mormon Church according to the rules
and principles Of the common law, as in case Of
the dissolution Of corporation. He felt, he
said, that ought to strike the Mormon
Church organization out of existence 1t was
shrewd temporal organization. It's emigrant ar
rangements, its titning capacity, it's money
power, and generally, its organization and vigor,
had been the wonder of our time. Instead of
appointing trustees for the management OF
: these temporal matters Congress should cut up
the organization, root and branch.
Mr. Cali did not believe that Congress had the
right to destroy the religious establishment of
the Mormons The practice of polygamy un-
holy though it was, did not authorize us to vio-
late the Constitution of the United States by
legislation in regard to an establishment of re
ligion or 10 take private property for public use
Referring to Mr.. Edmunds's point. ttAt it was
nayr ht4%t tnn Of
the church that were to be administered by the
trustees provided by the bill, Mr. Call inquired
what would be thought of Congress If It should
undertake to administer. by trustees or other
wise the property and temporal affairs of, for
instance, the Roman Catholic Church. He read
from early Puritan laws to show that,
IN the seventeenth century, the Quakers were
denominated damnabe sect, who, on their
entry in tha colonies, were subject to a fine of
f100, as well AS Imprisonment. The Christian
sentiment of the country and the ordinary laws.
if enforced, were amply sufficient for dealing
with polygamy. He, therefore, opposed the BILL
Mr. Edmunds said the bill would not affect the
religious affairs of the Mormons. 1t would only
affect the temporal arrangements of the Mormon
Church, SO far as those arrangements contrib
uted to the perpetration of what the people Of
the United States regarded as crime.
Mr.. Morgan did not feel that were dealing
with al establishment of religion" 1t might
%pass as religion" in China ana in the valley of
the Congo. Here it was an establishment not
of religion, but of vice. The sentiment of the
whole people of the United States was against
It. It was an establishment opposed to the
spirit of our national Constitution.
Mr., Cullom, alluding to tho remarks made by
Mr.. Teller yesterday. said he differed with the
senator from Colorado. He did not think we
had persecuted the Mormons.
Mr.. Teller denied having made the statement
attrbuted to him by Mr.. Cullom. What he had
said was not that the United States government
had prosecuted the Mormons, but that the ac-
tion OF nnwise agents, selected by the govern
ment, had resulted in irritating the Mormons.
Mr.. Culom would prefer to abolish altogether
the legislative power of the Territory of Utah.
If this bill. however, were the best that could be
got at this time he would vote for it.
Mr.. Teller said he as anxious as any man
to see polygamy extirpated, but wanted to see it
done under the form and under the color of law.
Polygamy was crime, but not a greater crime
than murder, not greater crime than rape He
was willing to put the knife in but wanted it
so be in manner authorized by our Constitution
and laws. He believed that the old law had
enough authority TO enable the government to
complete the end in view in this matter, but for
fifteen years the government had made practi-
cally no effort to enforce the old law. He re-
garded Joseph Smith as an arrant knave and
his system depotism that must be wiped
cut Referring to his remark of yes
terday, that the strong hand of the
government should be put on these
people with velvety touch, Mr. Teller said that
what he meant was that punishment should be
administered, not for vengeance, but for the ref
orrnation of: the criminal. Since making his
remark of yesterday, Mr.. Teller said he had
been asked 'swhy do you put yourself in the posi-
ton of seeming to be friend of those people2"
and the senator from Vermont had yesterday
made reference to sentiment in connection with
sthe views of some senator's on this bill Mr..
Teller was happy to say that he had always
listened to the complaint of the distressed. He
had come of race that had always been in dis
tress, and il was natural for him to do so. He
thought the report of the Utah Commission
showed great Improvement among the Nor
mons when II stated that last year there had
been practically plural marriages He could
hear testimony to their virtues without indors
ing their vices
Mr.. Culiom read from the report of Governor
Ford to show the course pursued by the Nor
mons when in Illinois,
Mr.. Teller said that the government had con