The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-19
GODFREY INTERVIEWED.
He Thinks the Utah Commission Should be
Continued-The Bone Rule Bill
HERALD BUREAU,
Cor. 18th and @ Sts., n. W.,
WAcurNnrn.r n ~ Nav 1Q


/ saw Colonel Godfrey of Utah tonight at
the Riggs house. He was sitting in the
reading room. A recent copy of The SALT
LAKE HERALD lay in his lap. There was q
far-away look in his eyes and he was evil
IDENTIFY making a mental calculation how
long the taxpayers of the country would
continue his commission in existence.
He was not over communicative at first,
but sour acquaintance developed as he
talked more freely, although regret to say
that he failed to furnish any definite infor-
nation on the points upon which l most de-
sired enlightenment.
Don't think me impairment" said l,
''but would like to know what you are
doing in Washington"
The colonel gave his spectaces an extra
twist, as if to adjust them more carefully
at right angles with his nose, and answered
automatically that be was On his way east
and stopped over q few days en- route.
lis it true" said l, that an effort is be-
Ing made to abolish the Utah commission
by failing TO appropriate money for its
maintenance7'
II have heard" he replied with grave
deliberation, that an effort of that sort is
being made, and l am told that Mr. Game
is behind it. l expect to see some of the
House appropriation committee tomorrow
and talk with them about H."
81 believe" said l, "that some of the
entlemen who came here several months
ago TO advocate the passage of the Home
| Rule bill, intimated rather strongly that
the commission was a useless body and
that 1t ought not to be continued any
longer. Am mistaken about that!n
Are you mistaken about that said the
colonel, repeating my inquiry. "Well, no
don't think you are 1t seems to me that
some statements of that sort were made.
Yes" he continued sarcastically, II am
quite sure of it"
"But why should an effort be made to
abolish the commission!" said l. This was
what the lawyers call leauing question
but it did not disconcern the commissioned
a particle. He hesitated moment and
then he replied evasiyely:
it.n
Then, of course, you think it ought tt
be continued!" l suggested.
81 de-" the commissioner quietly replied
"lt has often been asserted that we are al
bad men, but that is not So You mus
know Alexander Ramsey, General Nc
ClellanC and ex-senator Sanders. They
are all men of high character, and tn,
other members of the commission, since it,
: formation, are gentlemen of equally goo(
standing.' Said the judge. tapping hi
breast with his fore-fnger, II am the onl,
scallawag on the commission" and b.
looked so solemn about it that it was diff
ticult to tell for moment whether b.
spoke in jest or in earnest.
''Now,n said he, 'let me interview you
What is going to be done with the HON
Rule bill!"
i told him that from the best information
obtainable it would undoubtedly pass tn,
House and that it would pass the Senate
the Senate Committee on Territories re
: ported it favorably, and l told him that
, majority of the committee wer
what action they would take was a
yet predetermined. Tie information
! seemed to accord with what he had hear
! from other sources today, but beyond
. general observation regarding the meas
ure he did not pursue the subject further
/ l learned this afternoon that Colone
: Godfrey is 80 much exercised over the pos
! sible abolition of the Utah commissio
that he had long conference today wit
Representative Henderson of Iowa, who i
one of the leading Republican members c
h the House Appropriations Committee. Th
r commissioner expects to meet Mr.. Hendel
. son again tomorrow to endeavor to ascer
tain definitely what action the commute
v mas take regarding the matter.
Governor Thomas ia still in the city an
will probably stay here for some time. H
called on Mr.. Platt, the chairman of th
Senate Territories committee, to-day, br
Plat subsequently informed me that the
. visit was purely formal in it's characte
> and that Utah matters were only incider
Y tally discussed. He sad the governor
v health was bad, that his physicians hs
;. ordered him away from Salt Lake and tbs
5 he would probably spend his vacation !
u the mlder and more salubrious climate
y Washington. He added, that while IL
q governor might talk with some of the sen
q tors about the Home Rule and the World
" fair bills, but that he had not intimate
> any desire to appear before the committt
J. in opposition to them.