Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-29
THAT RELIGIOUS TEST.
The Measure to be Reported on
FaYOrably by Republicans.
THE AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.
Mr.. SPrinser's Proposal 10 Protect
Religious Belief Rejected.

The House Committee on Terri.
tories has finished its consideration
OF the bill 10 disfranchise the ssior-
mons" Two reports are TO be made.
the republicans supporting the bill.
Here are the proceedings Of yester-
day, as stated in a Herald special:
Washington. ID. C., April s.
The House committee ON territories
this morning, by a strict party vote,
agreed TO report favorably on the
Mormon Acknowledgement bill with
the following amendments and after
the oath:
'section 2-And any person who
shall take said oath shall lie en-
titled to have his name entered on
the registry for said election, but If
he swear falsely he shall he deemed
guilty OF PERJURY and on conviction
thereof shall be punished according
ly."
''Section 3-ThM any person con-
victed Of the crime Of perjury under
the provisions OF this act or OF the
act lcereby amended, or to which
this act is supplemental, shall have
the right TO appeal upon any ques-
ton Of law or fact 10 the supreme
court Of the United Statss.''
Section 3 OF the printed bill be-
comes section 4. The amendment
previously agreed upon making the
bill applicable 10 all the Territories
was FecOnsitered and stricken out.
There were a few verbal amend
meats made in the body Of the bill
without changing the sense.
Mr.. Springer offered the following
as an amendment, but il was voted
down by party vote: provided
that no person shall be deprived Of
the right TO vote, hold office or sit
on jury on account Of his religious
belief or opinions"
Struble's report on the bill which
was already prepared before the
meeting to-day, il being considered
by the republican members. The
democrats will make n minority re-
port.
4 special to TIE Tribune gives the
following:
Washington, ID. C., April o.
The Mormon DISTINGUISHING bill |
was taken up ia the House COM
mi;tee on Territories this morning |
anu a favorable report ordered by a
strict party vote. 1t now goes on
the House calendar, to which it was
shortly after the House
Following is n synopsis OF the
report OF the committee:
"The Edmunds-Tucker act pro-
viGes that an oath should Ice taken
precedent TO voting. In accordance
with the law, the Utah COM
prepared an oath (the form
If which is embodied in the report.
Referring to the law il Will be seen
hat twas the intention Of Congress
o bind the voters 10 an observance
II the laws passed for the suppress
ion OF polygamy. At the time the
aw was enarted, an opinion was
by many persons that
10 Mormon would take such an
'ath without having formed 4 clear
10 obey it. Doubtless This
opinion hsd n controlling effect in
he passage Of the law. The PeO-
Hes Party issued an address to the
'Oters with respect TO the cath, its
feet, meaning, etc, using the fol-
owing language:
''The questions that intending
-Oters need. therefore, to ask them
elves are these: Are We guilty Of
lie crimes in said act, or have we
present intention OF committing
he crimes or aiding, abetting. caus-
ng or advising any other IersOn TO
Ommit them. Male citizens who |
an answer these que1tiUns in the
negative are, under the existing |
avs, voters and CiliCe hOlders."
"Probably 10 language could have |
cen used more misleading than the /
b5ve- The very purpose Of Con-
res in passing the law and the e
lain letter Of the law COntemplates
hat the voters and Office holders Of
he Territory should give the law
or the Suppression OF pOlygamy a
irm. loyal support. Yet the Nor
non voters were instructed hy the
eadeTs that unless at the time of
they then and there had ,
n intention to violate said law they
we're eligible for registration ami
Qualified 10 take the oath" II
sit cannot be successfully denied
hat Il vas the-purpOse and inteu-
len Of the law that those who re-
held office or acted as jur-
rs should have formed "A purpose to
obey its requirements,b but
he results Of the registration under
he action OF the Mormon leaders
endered the law absolutely nuga-
DRY in accomplishing the purposes
or which it was enacted. In fact,
With respect to the purpose and in
en.ion OF the M,rnoA voters con
iDlygamy, the law has had
10 effect and j. today n dead letter"
An extract from the Utah Com
MISSIONS repoIt is quoted: at will
therefore be seen that additional
eg station Is necessary to give full
orce and effect to the existing
avs"
the bill reported viii, in
he opinion Of the committee,
meet the difficulty. Similar pro-
-isions have been successfully tn
orced in Idaho aud the Supreme
court has affirmed their validity.
The decision Of the Supreme Court
: here quoted. The committee
ur;ber s1ys that 10 religious right
: invaded by the bill, and no con-
titutional objection can be urged
o its passage. IL will close the
lOor 10 the evssions which have
made the present laws imperative,
md will be eflectual in extirpating
Extracts are appended
o the report from reports OF Cover
Ions West and Thomas and the Utah
Commission.
The bill will be pushed and there
re excellent prospects Of its pas
age.
Literary Notes.