The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-03
STATEHOOD FOR IDAHO.
STATEMENTS AS TO THE OPPoSI-
TON OF THE MORMoNs.

Mr. Mansur Crlticises the Distranchise-
mont Provision in the Proposed Con-
stitution-He Declares that the Re-
publicans Are Influenced by the
Fact That the Mormons Are Demo-
Gratis.
WASHINGTON. April 2.-The House met
at IL o'clock this morning. Not more than
fifty members were present. The chaplain
was absent and the journal was Lot pre-
pared for reading. In the morning hour,
on motion of Mr.. Turner Of Georgia, from
the committee on commerce, the bill was
passed authorizing the construction OF a
bridge across the Ocoaee river at Dublin,
Ga.
At the instance Of the committee on COM
merce several bills authorizing the con-
struction Of bridges across navigable
streams wero passed. Among them was
one providing for bridge across tho Hud-
son river between New York city and some
point in New Jersey.
IDAHo's ADMISSION.
The House then took up the bill for the
admission of Idaho as state in the union.
Mr.. Dorsey of Nebraska who is in charge
of the bill, opened the debate with a speech
in its favor. The only oppo ition TO the
admission of Idaho cams from the Nor
mons. They protested against the provision
of the constitution which DISTINGUISHES
bigamists and polygamists and persons who
are members Of any association which en-
courages tigamy.
Mr.. Mansur of Missouri promised his re-
marks with disclaimer of any sympathy
with the institution of polygamy, but he
criticised the provision of the constitution
disfranchsing the Mormons. No other
state in the union had ever sought to en-
force what this constitution sought to en-
force. No American citizen should ever be
punished without a trial and fair hearing.
REPUBLICAN, MEASURE.
The real reason for disfranchising the
Mormons was that the Mormons in Idaho
voted the democratic ticket. 1t was not a
question of principle, but Of expsdiency.
The Idaho constitution did not require con-
viction as precedent to disqualification,
and therefore the determination of the
question as to whether person was a biga-
mist or a polygamist or aided or abetted in
the commission of these offenses must be by
a registration officer or by some election
board. If the constitution contained pro-
vision that citizen should make oath that
he had not committed or aided the commits
sion of polygamy or bigamy when required
to do so, and that upon the taking of such an
oath he should be permitted to vote, a very
different situation would be presented. In
such case he would exercise the privileges
of citizenship and he would incur the re-
sponsibilities incident to perjury if he made
false oath. But the proposed constitution
made no provision by which, although
accused, he could deny under oath the
accusation and, therefore, of necessity he
was subject TO tho VIII or INDIGNANT
of the election officers from whose
action he had no appeal and
by whose action he was deprived of the
right of suffrage.
Mr. Dubois of Idaho earnestly advocated
the admission OF the territory he repre-
sented into the brotherhood of states.
AN ARIZoNIAN's ARGUMENT.
Mr. Smith of Arizona earnestly de-
nounced tho action of the committee on
territories in failing to report bill for the
admission Of the territory he represented.
His people had been unfairly treated
Arizona had every qualification for state
hood which Montana, Dakota or Washington
possessed. But the bill for the admission
of Arizona was to be smothered in COM
mittee simply because she had seen fit to
send a democrat to this congress. 1t was
unfair treatment, and he voiced the repub-
lican as well as the democratic sentiment Of
his territory in protesting against il.
The debate was continued by Messrs
Chapman OF Michigan and Perkins of Kan
sas. Pending further debate, the bill went
over until tomorrow.
On motion of Mr.. Tucker of Virginia the
Senate bill was passed appropriating $l1 900
for the construction Of the road from the
city of Staunton, Va, to the national ceme-
terry near that point.
The Ho.Ge then adiournod