The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1888-10-06
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A Report on MormondOm.

! A Report on Mormendom.
The majority report of the Utah COM
: mission, signed by G. L. Godfrey, A. B.
Williams and Arthur L. Thomas, has
been received by the secretary of the
interior. The recommendation of the
:; last annual report is renewed that Utah
. should not be admitted to the Union
! until such time as the Mormon people
shall manifest by their future acts that
they have abandoned polygamy in good
faith, and not then until an amendment
shall have been made to the constitu-
tion Of the United States prohibiting
the practice of polygamy. The report
adds:
| The convention which adopted the
proposed constitution which upon an
appeal was made to congress for admis-
sion to the Union, was held without
authority from any proper source. The
proposed constitution is silent with res
pect to the crime Of polygamy. The
government cannot afford to surrender
| VIC CdO az W iiACl ~ AAOV
holds, and which has been secured at
much expense and trouble. No harm
can result from delay in the admission
of the territory The democratic and
republican parties OF Utah in their con-
ventions, recently held, endorsed the
positions taken in the majority report
since the report of last year, the legis-
latlve assembly Of Utah has granted to
the minority, or the un-Mormon ele-
ment, representation in the control of
the public institutions and provided for
local representation in Salt Lake and
other cities.
In our opinion one of the chief causes
for the long delay in the settlement of
the contest in Utah has been the exer-
else Of political power subordinate to
the interests of the church. The Nor
mon church is committed to policy
which. if successful, will prove de-
structive to the public school system in
Utah. The recommendation is, there
fore, renewed that uperintendents of
public schools be appointable by the
| governor. The work under the law of
congress. with respect to the regstra-
ton Of votes and the conduct of elect
ions, has been satisfactorily performed.
During the year there have been eight
indictments for polygamy and four con-
victions, $40 indictments for unlawful
cohapitaton and 1926 convictions. An
energetic enforcement of the laws
should be continued, as should also the
political disabilities.
The Forfeiture Bill.
The Northern Pacific land forfeiture
! bill passed the house last week. A for
feiture bill of such magnitude has prob
ably never before passed the house
without material opposition or debate
The bill now goes to the senate, where
it will follow the ordinary course. 1t
forfeits:
All the lands granted to the Northern
Pacific railroad company by the act of
July 2, 1884, except such as are adjacent
to and coterminous with road construc-
ted prior to July 4, 1879, with the right
of-way through the remainder of the
route, including all necessary grounds
for station buildings, shops, depots,
switches, side tracks. turntables and
excepting also all lands included
wit hin tho Ip,itS of vi1loyn fpx
Or city lie and the same are hereby de-
clared forfeited and restored to the
public domain because of the failure Of
the company to perform the co ndilions
on which the grant was made. The
forfeiture shall not extend to lands adj
jacent to and coterminious with COM
pleted roads sold by said company prior
to Jan.l, 1888, to bonafide purchasers for
value, but the title to such lands is con-
firmed to such purchasers, their heirs
or assigns, upon condition that all per-
sons claiming the benefit of this Sec
tion shall, within one year after the
passage of the act, make and file before
the register and receiver Of the proper
land office, subject to an appeal to the
commissioner of the general land office,
proof OF the good faith, consideration,
date and extent Of his or her purchase.
All settlers upon the forfeited lands are
authorized to acquire title to not exceed
ing one hundred and sixty acres under
the homestead law.
Protection.
In a speech at Salem, Mich, J. w.
Donovan says: "Under the four laws
signed by President Lincoln we COM
menced to make up the earth into
money, and have prospered marvelously
by it, and no wonder, for the material
is triae in value while the thing made
up is added wealth to the nation. The
first law was the protection act OF 1861,
the second was the greenback currency
act, the third was the homestead acts
once vetoed by Buchanan; the last was
the law of universal freedom. Each act
was bitterly opposed by the democracy,
yet we prospered in spite of all opposi-
ton. Talk to me of max
ing money. It is a slow process by
farming. 1t is quick process by the
factory. The nation has grown wealthy
in all the bright cities north and south,
like Chicago, New York or st. Paul, by
the plan have mentioned All these