The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-11-04
ONE GOOD SUGGESTION.


1t Governor Vests last annual re-
port can be said to contain any redeem
ing feature, that will be found in the
closing paragraph, which reads as fol-
lows:
Believing that clear knowledge of the
facts and full appreciation ofthe situation
VIII secure from Congress necessary iegls-
lation for the good of this Territory, [
recommend the appointment by Congress
of committee composed of equal numbers
of Democrats and Republicans from both
Houses, with full. authority to make COM
plete and thorough investigation OF the
conditions heretofore and now prevailing
in Utah, with all nece ,sary power to secure
the attendance of witnesses and full
ascertainmeat of fac.s If, however, it
should be deemed By reason of other Con-
gressional d-tieS, such committee could
not devote the necessary time and attention
to such an investigation, provide Tor the ap-
pointlnent by the President, with the ad-
vice and consent OF the senate, of commits
sion to be composed equally of the TWO
great parties to be clothed in the power
suggested by said committee, and charged
with this duty and no other.
This is ccmmendable. 1t is praise
worthy. 1t breathes spirit of fairness
which is found in no other part of the
report, for even in the presentation OF
statistics His Exc slIency has displayed
the same degree of recklessness in his
statements that characterizes his mali
cious charges against the majority of
the community. 1t seems almost as if
the Governor had carefully and sys-
tematicaIly gone to work to do as much
harm as he was capable of inhictiDg TO
the Territory; either that, or he is the
champion ignoramus and blunderer.s
But he asks for Congressional in
vestigation into the condition of things
prevailing in this Territory, and for max
ing this request we can almost forgive
him for his manifest meanness in Other
directions. There has not been yea
in the past fifteen in which THE HERALI
has not asked for Just what Governo!
| West now requests. We have PLEADED
for Congressional commission to conn
to Utah. and ascertain for itself if sucl
statements as those promulgated offici
ally by Governor West were true. w
have petitioned Congress 10 send dele
CATION to learn the truth of the viii
stories upon which anti-Utah legisla
ton has been largely based. When tn
people of this Territory have been &C
cused of setting the laws at defiance, o
terrorizing any class, OF revolutionar.
tendenc;el. We have begged Congress t.
send somebody here who could be relic,
upon to speak the truth, and let hin
say if the stories were true, or if tn
people were scandalized by scoundrell.
adventures. When Governors an,
Judges and marshals have conspired t.
malign the Utah community tn
HERALD has asked the President to dis
patch some man to this Territory VIII
could be trusted, with instruction
to ascertain and report the tru
condition of affairs. When enemies t
Utah have had bills before Congress fo
the destruCt'o on of the Territory, an
Governor West was in Washington
Logging for theose bills like a vuIga
lobbyist, The HERALD pleaded wit
Congress to send out commission t
ascertain the facts and learn if ther
were righteous occasion for the radics
legislation that was proposed.
We are grateful to His Excellence
for the suggestion in his report, an
hope it will have better success thai
have the similar appeals which hav
been presented annually for these man
years. If it shall result in bringin
the commission Governor West Wi
never again make such slanderou
report as that which went to the Score
tary of the Interior over his signatur
few days ago.