Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-06-29

existence. They tuunu AZ Nhe hn'
this matter was before Congress the
Territory was IN the hands OF poly.
ganlsta, absolutely AMI entirely, and
they determined after that period TO
iit their stringent laws In reference TO
the ofiense. In order TO carry out
those laws they
VACATED ALI TERRITORIAL
OFFICES
Of every description, and they entered
into an agreement TO supply the
vacancy Ia all the territorial in-
fefior offices which were absolutely
held by that law, Ly creating COIN
mission OF five gentlemen from other
states or territories within the territory
Of Utah to be appointed by the
president
"But that law further went on and
contemplated that at the succeeding
election that was TO be held under an
entirely new election law, every man
who exercised the right Df the elective
franchise was 10 take an oath that he
was not polygamist, and any man
who was running for an Otllce was
compelled TO take the same oath. Then
II was expected the legislature was
given the right to pass such laws as
every other territorial legislature had
the right to pass In order TO MI all the
offices made vacant by the Edmundn
law, and which were subsequently
filed by appointment unucr the conn
mission.
cater all that had been carried out
In accordance with the views OF Con
gress, we lind that when the legisla-
ture met under these circumstances Ia
1854, they passed law anticipated by
Congress TO carry out the provisions o {
the latter clause " the ninsh section OF
the Edmunds law. The Governor OF
Utah, which h not the case In any
other territory under the government
Of the United S,ato., has the
ABSOLUTE vETO POWER.
He has not only the absolute veto
power, but may by simply pockuting n
bill absolutely deprive the legislative
body Of that Territory from the expires
sion u any opinion on u legislative
matter. In the organic act OF Utah II
require the signature ~ the governor
In order TO give vitality TO any act or
the legislature, something thst II un-
heard Of In the government OF this
country or In any Territory un'
der the government Of the United
States.
"withoui reason, without eSplRna.
ton, ~ | am informed, the governor
simply vetoed that bill In 1854. The
legislature, trying 10 carry out the pro.
Visions of the act Of Congress again In
1855, passed n law amt sgsin IN 1890
they passed n law 10 carry out the pro.
visions OF II, and provide for the cleo
tion " oillcers In that Territory as au'
ticlpated In the Edmunds law, and
again In 1892 II did the same thing aud
the governor has simply put it Ia his
pocket. What object aud purpose he
! had ia preserving this Territorial com.
mission created In 1889 | am at n loss
to know. lie In not n member Of It or
IA any way affected by the provisions
Of the law Of the legislature passed In
pursuance OF the Edmunds law.
"Mr. President, am opposed to any
kind OF n commisHiOn sont from the
| States 10 govern q Territory. II had
been In the Scr tie when this commits.
sion was created, under the act OF 1852,
should have opposed u. There Is
not, 20 far Es I know, an excuse for IL.
The last territorial legislature passed
~ stringent a law Against polyghmy Ms
the Edmunds law Itself. suppose II
will not bc questioned here that
PoLYOAMY As Az INSTITUTION IN
UTAH ~ DEAD.
do not know ary gentleman who
could question 1t, because II he would
70 TO the records Of the attorney
generals o1ice here Ia this city Of
Washington,h he would II d an applicl.
ton for amnesty for nll these mon who
were convicted by judges appointed
during the Cleveland administration,
In which the authorities Of the church
announce the fact OF the abolition OF
polygamy In tho Territory Of Utah,
and appeal to the President for tn,
clemenoy which the Law permits him
10 exercise. II It were simply the
church authorities that made tina,
statement there might be some ques-
ton In this bOiy; but that statement Il
endorsed by the governor OF the Terri.
tory, by the Utah commission, aud II
Is endorsed by all four Of the Judges OF
the superior court Of Utah. TINS Presi.
dent, for the reasons stated In thai
petition, 10 urged TO grant the clsmen,
cy asked for by the peopl. Of Utah
Those who perhaps have not thought
about this question, should remember
that the commission has but
ONE SOLITARY FUNCTION 10 PERFoRs
In the Territory Of Utah. II simply
has to govern tue election Of the peO.
ple Of Utah. IL IL sent for that pur.
pose annually when they have their
general election. They appoint the reg
iatrnrA, they appoint the .commlssionor
and supervisors OF elections. The return
ofelectlon have TO be made 10 this boart
Of commissioners and they certify tn,
result. That In the sole function ant
power that has been conferred upon
them, except under the act OF 1891
when they were given the authority TO
apportion the Territory into legislativ,
districts, which they have compile,
with, aud the last legislature was elect
= od under the nppOttiOnment made by
that commission under the act OF 1891
Now, sir, think the time has come
ton years after the creation OF thi
! commission, when they by the VERY
nature OF the law 1t was TO have passed
expired in 1884, at the meeting OF tn
next legislature for Congress 10 abolisl
= It, when the question OF pOlygamy as
Question OF Otiense against the laws o
tue territory aud against the laws o
the United States 10 virtually admitted
To have been abandoned, when the,
have
So OMEN FUNCTIONS IN THE woRIl