New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-23
THE UTAH COMMISSION REPORTS.
PoLYGAMY STILL ACTIVELY PRACTisED IN THE
TERRITORY-Ay AMNESTY RECOMMENDED.

PoLYGAMY STILL ACTIVELY PRACrisED IN THE
TERRITORY-AN AMNESTY RECOMMENDED.
Washington Sept. 22-Secrctary Noble has received
the annual report OF the proceedings OF the Utah
Commission for the year ended september l, during
which time three sessions held, one at Chicago
and two at salt Lake City. In the opinion OF the
Commission, change Is apparent In the political
situation in Utah. which, If properly foStered and
honestly managed will be productive OF good results
Tie commission Is glad to note the Interest that Is
manifested generally In political questions and the
growth OF sentiment on party lines. Considerable
space In the report Is devoted to discussion 10 the
subject OF polygamy. Before the last report, the
president of the Mormon Church had ISSUED mani
festo which was asserted by the authorities to have
the force and effect of abolishing polyGamy. But
because the commission pointed the fact that the
manifesto merely an advice to suspend the oper
alton OF what the church authorities still insisted was
n Divine law and presented facts which tended at
least TO show that poygamy and its kindred offences
were still to extent practised, the commission
the report says, find itself at once the subject OF the
most violent dcnuncations retailers of falsehoods
The commission insists that it cannot possibly have
au Interest reporting anything but the facts. and
that common abundantly corroborates Its re
ports.
That pvlvgany still exists, and that there are many
cases constantly coming to the public knowledge OF
association between polygamiss and the plural wives
they had protested have put away is fact that In
the face of the statistics presented can hardly be con-
trovered The cascs OF arrest for unlawful cohabia
ton have Of late been numerous, and men OF prom
inencc In the Church found among the NUMBER
The convictions are numerous, and would doubtless DC
more numerous II for the fact that II Is 50
difficult TO convict. The commission says IL mas re-
ports OF fifteen male persons who believed TO have
entered into poly gamous marriages dui1lg the IsI
year. and Of more than 300 persons who are KNOWN
or believed to be now living in poygamous relations
Whatever cause for complaint IN regard 70 regstr''-
ton and the conduct OF elections may exist arises
wholly from the harsh and cumbersome laws enacted
by Mormon Legislatures in the past, and not in the
acts of the commission in CONSUMING and following
Them rs II Is required by law to do.
In December last the Church authorities petltlohcu
the President for n general amnesty for the Mormon
people In the opinion Of the commission, 1t Is the
most important Of the documents the Church has issued
and contains the most direct and positive statements
o lis desires and promises for the future whlch mas
come from that Without asserting 10 an
It's assertions, the commission would DE- ei'u II 'n'
relief prayed for could be granted, under proper Coh
ditOns. The commission does not UNDERSTAND ulil
This would turn over at to the pndOnch people
the absolute control OF the machinery OF government
I'm Utah either through statehood or socaIleu nome
rule That Utah advancing on the plane Ol pioeIH.
and prosperity should satisfy all who are Interested
I'm it, welfare and that 1t Is making rapid strides III
that direction the commission freely admits