Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-05
PLAIN TALK FOR TIIR UTAH
UTAH COMMISSION.


should he conducted under tho laws OF
the United States and OF this Territory.
The Commission IL 10 appoint the regis
tration and election oilicers, aud they
are 10 perform the same duties under
the same regulations ~ the officers
who were formerly elected by the PEG.
pie were required TO perform.
The law provides for a correction Of
the registration lists at stated periods.
This correction Is TO be- done In a house
TO house visitation by the proper
officers, and consists Of striking from
the lists the names Of all persons who
have died, or have removed from the
precinct, or arc otherwise disqualified
rs voters therein, and adding TO the
lists the names Of all qualified voters
whose NAMES are not thereon.
Under the Utah statute this duty de-
volvrd upon the ASSESSORS Of the vari-
Gus counties, or cities as the ease might
be, and their Deputies. Under the
Edmunds net II Is TO be performed by
"propcr persons" appointed by the
Utah Commission. The Assessor OF
the County l. responsible officer
under bonds for the faithful perform
ance ~ his duties. Under the
appointments Of the Utah Commission
the registration officers have not,
usually, bcen'proper persons, "but per-
sons chosen chiefly for their pro-
nounced hostility 10 the majority Of
the voters, and their ildoliiy to u fac
ton seeking 10 gain control Of publlc
afiairs. Aud they have been lire.
eponsible persons, not placed under
bonds, who have done pretty much NJ
they pleased, and Ia some Instances
have doned the power that appointed
them, ignored tho rulings Of courts,
and openly worked for the special In
tercst OF the faction from which they
were Intentionally chosen.
These are facts that the U tab Com
mission cannot truthfully deny,
although some Of IL mem beers may
object to our blunt way ofpuiting them.
What has becn the consequence
This; That the work required by law
has not been done, but the appointccs
have been paid for II, verth oless, out
ofthe treasury Of the United States.
The proof " this has been furn iahcd
many times, but the Commission
apparently has taken no notice Of IL
Now, however, II comos from sourc'
which should arrest lts attention, bc
cause II ~ furnished by the party
which the majority OF the Com mission
seem 10 hav. chiefly laborcd TO sup
port. The Salt Lake 7ri5 une, who's,
influence Is continually felt la IN,
Office Of the Commission whic h reposei
under Ia shadow, has publish ed la
Of hundreds Of names Of voter
claimed IA "l.ibcrals, /" who could mo-
DO found In the precincts whore thoy
were registered. There arc man,
hundreds more which were not giveI
In that list, but the Tribune selection
answer every purpose just now.
No matter what may have b cen IN,
intent OF leaving these names OF Der
sons on the lists who have died or re-
moved nom the precinct, tho fact .,
mains that the registration officer
have not done the work which the
were paId 10 do. And II they hay
sworn 10 vouchers In order 10 get thei
nay. they hive committed perjury.
This neglect, 10 call Il by no wor-
name-though We think the .vldenc
ia clear that il deserves a hapher wort
moro significant OF criminal net an
intent-has been continued ey,
since tho Utah Commission he
exercised the appolnting authority A
place Of the electlng power OF the DC,
Die. Tn. blame reflect, upon Ia,
body, while tho evil results that hay
followed mr., felt by the communit,
The wrong can 10 rectlfled and N
power To correct II ia with In, TIN
Commission.
How can Il bo doneq simply bv
compliance on the mart Of that bod
with the letter AMI .nlrit NJ IN, Inv
under which they are required 10 nc
Let "proper prrsonsp los aunoInte,
and Lot oach county and CITY r,ristu
he nut under honda and thus b
come responsible for his own NO
and those OF hla IDENTITIES. A ma
...t,,o,,, 80. -,