New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-28
REPORT OF THE UTAH COMMISSION.
PoLYGAMY NO LONGER OPENLY PRACTIsED-
SUGGESTIONS LOOKING TO ITS ENTIRE
SUPPRESSION

SUPPRESSION.
Washington, Sept. 27.-The annual report OF the
Utah Commission has been received BY Secretary
Noble This Commission. under authority Of Con-
gress has general supervision Of all elections in the
Territory. and is especially entrusted with the
forcemcnt Of the Edmunds Tucker Act of March .,
1os7. The Commissioners in appointing registrars
Of elections. last November, selected, when possible
those belonging to the nOn-Mormon element. always
appointing a majority Of tie judges OF elections,
two out Of three, from the Gentle class. In some
places, however there were Centles TO fill the
places and In these CASES MormOns we're, OF course,
appointed. This course, the report states has had
the effect OF decreasing tho Mormon vote. Touch
ing the question of polygamy, the report says Poly
gamy is not at the present time openly pacsed, except
perhaps in a few remote andout-Ofthe places; ,
but the nOn-MormOn element insists that plural
marriages are solcmnlzel candestiney and practised
secretly in the larger centres and throughout the
Territory, This may may not be true; the
Commission neither affrms denies II
in the absence OF positive evidence. All
laws forbidding the practice of polygamy, the re
port continues, the MormOns pronounce uncOnstl-
mtOnal There grounds for belief, It IS stated,
that poygamy IS stl taught By the Church as saw
ing ordnance and that those who practise it
sIred of a higher eXaatOn in Heaven than those who
content themselves with one wife.
Extracts given from Mormon papers showing
that they still openly advocate polygamy. Those
persons who are convicted of pOlygamy regard them
selves and are regarded by their friends martyrs,
and think disgrace TO be sent to tie penitentary.
The courts commended for their vigilance and
also for the mercy with which their mandates arc
tempered. The Commission, I'm view OF the present
condition of the Territory regards poygamy, does
not think that Utah should BE- admitted State.
Should it be, the Commission says " It would not be
long before the Gentle element with its advanced
civilization, It's trade and ,its traffic, would be driven
from the Territory and the Mormon theocracy be made
supreme
The Commission makes a number of recommenda-
tons, among them that Jurisdiction Of all polyg'
amous and sexual offences, without regard to tho
place, committed within tho Territory, be conferred
on District Courts that the term OF imprisonment
for unlawful cohabitaon be extended to at least two
years for the first and three years for the second Of
fence. and that It be made penal offence for any
woman to enter into the marriage relation with any
man, knowing him to have wife living, undvorced-
coupled however, with the provision that, in cases
where a polygamOus wife is called as witness
against tho husband her testimony could not be sed
In any future prosecution against her, ana hAo
provision as 20 the husband that the laws In REFER
to immigration Of Chinese and The importation
OF contract labor, paupers and criminals DO SO
amended as to prevent the immigration OF persons
claiming that their religion justifes the crime of
polygamy that the Constitution should be amended
so as forever 10 prohibit polygamy that a law be
enacted creating Board, to consist OF tho Governor,
the Utah Commission and the secretary OF the
Territory to apportion Salt Lake CITY into Adermano
and other districts.
The report also recommends that the Commission
be authorized, In IFS discretion, TO cause
TO he made annually new regstra-
ton Instead of rcvisionS Of former lists;
that Congress pass laws for the government and con
duct on tie public schools In the Territory OF Utah
that as soon as the result Of the eleventh
known the Territory be redis riced for legislative
PURPOSES Tho Commission believes that the limitation
on prosecutions for polygamy and bigsmy should
he extsnded and sentence OF hard labor should
be added that their confinement may not be spent
in ideness and glor4fcaion Of their supposed
tyrdomo The Commission has no doubt that punish.
ment Of the woman for voluntarily entering into the
polyrarnois relation would DO much 10 lessen her
zeal for the pecuar institution, and thus tend TO
remove one Of It's strongest bulwarks
In concluding the report. no Commits sion saws
that Congress should tale backward Of even waNef
ING step In the enforcement of the laws against
polyganIy. The mpor is signed By q, ]. G"iirey,
chairman: a. T. Williams, X. ;. Robertson and ALVIN
Saunders
no ENLARGE THE WEST POINT GROUNDS.
Washington, sept. 27-Secretay Proctor to-day