The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-22

committee, reported joint resolution pro-
posing the following amendments TO the
constitution:
!. Polygamy shall not exist or be law
full within the United States or in any
place subject to their jurisdiction.
2. Polygamy shall consist in marriage
relation by contract, or in fact, existing ut
the same time between one person of
either sex and more than one person of
the other sex.
3. Congress shall have power concur
rent with the several States TO enforce this
act. House calendar
Mr.. Wilson, OF Minnesota, from the
committee on commerce, reported bill
providing for collector OF the port of st,
Paul. Committee OF the whole.
Mr.. Bankhead, OF Alabama, from the
committee on public buildings and
grounds, reported bill authorizing the
water now running to waste atllot Springs,
Ark. House calendar.
Bills were reported and placed upon the
calandar for erection OF public buildingsa at
the following places: Hastings, Ncb.; New
Orleans, La; Statesvillc, N. c.; Wilkes
barre Pa; Helena, Ark; Portland, Ore,
and Sedalia, Mo.
Mr.. Martin, OF Texas, from the commit
tee ON coinage, weights and measures, re-
ported the bill 10 establish sub-trcasury
at Galveston. Committee OF the whole.
Mr.. lPhelan, OF Tennessee, from the COM
mittee on commerce, reported q bill TO OK
tend the limits OF the port OF New Orleans.
House calendar.
Mr.. Breckenridge, OF Arkansas, from the
.t.l
the bill authorizing the consolidation OF
certain customs collections districts, and
providing for the compensation OF certain
collectors and surveyoSof customs. House
calendar.
Mr.. J. d. Taylor. of Ohio, introduced a
bill to change the common law OF marriage
10 the customs Of modern civilization, by
the emancipation OF married women in the
District OF Columbia and the Territories.
Referred.
In the consideration morning hour the
House resumed the consideration OF the
reservation in Kansas. The bill was
amended 30 Ms 20 provide that the land
shall be sold for 80 an acre, and 80 amend
cd Il was passed.
The IIonse then went into committee Of
the whole for the consideration Of public
| building measures. A bill was agreed 10
appropriating $50, 900 for the enlargement
and improvement Of u building ut Charles
ton, W. Va.
The rommittee rose and the House adj.
jouncd until Thursday.
THE PoLYoAMY LAWS.
In reporting 10 the House the joint res.
olution proposing a constitutional amend
ment defining and prohibiting polygamy,
the House committee on the judiciary says
the object Is TO clothe the general govern
ment with concurrent powers with the
several States 10 suppress the crime Of po.
| lygamy in the several States.
II is believed, says the report, that with.
in very brief period the practice Of po
lygamy In the Territories will be eilcctually
suppressed, but II must be evident TO every
one that In one, or perhaps more, Of the
Territories the withdrawal Of the power d
the general government 10 punish polyg
amy. which necessarily would follow th,
admission Of such Territories into -th,
Union rs States, would be n signal for .
return TO the practice Of polygamy. Tho
anti-Mormon element would BE- powerlcS
either 10 make or enforce laws against Thu
oiicnsc. Such Territories must either
therefore, be continued indefinitely undei
expensive territorial government, or TO b,
admitted into the Union Us States with th,
absolute certainty that polygamy will bC
shielded from punishment by statehood
This result, Il Is believed, cannot be Ger
tainly prevented by an amendment 10 th,
constitution Of the United States, such a,
Is now proposed.