The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-31

Commenting upon this. Chairman Wash
ington says: SIN the face of such evil
dence as this, and from all classes of
gentiles and Mormons, both official and I'M
official, there can be 10 longer question
as to the status of polygamy in the terri
tory. That institution has been
ABOLISHED FOREVER,
and the laws relating TO it are as strictly
obeyed in Utah as in any other territory or
any other state in the union. The second
and the most serious objection so far IS
the government of the territory was in
volved, was that the church assumed to
control not only the religious. but the po-
litical action of the people of Utah, and
that for the purpose OF political con-
troll II organized and managed q
political party, composed in the
main, if not entirely, of its people
Thistle Peoples party-was by all rer-
sons not belonging to it at least regarded
as the party of the Mormon church, though
it was always asserted by the party and
church that there was no connection be-
tween the two. 1t was admitted that the
Peoples party was a party Of the Mormon
people, organized to protect that people
against the aggressions of the non Nor
mons, organized into the Liberal party, but
1t was insisted that the church. as a church,
mad no authority over it, that its priests
did not dictate to the party.
THE MERITS OF THE CONTROVERSY,
occasioned by the existence of the Peoples
party, are not material to the subject now
under consideration, for that party ceased
TO exist nearly year ago. Polygamy hav-
ing been abolished, and the Peoples party
having been dissolved, large number of
the leading Democrats and Republicans
who had been associated in the Liberal
party abandoned the organization and have
since acted with the parties 10 which they
| respectively belonged. The governor says
In his report for 1891, as to the division of
the people of Utah upon the usual party
lines: 1t was to be expected that the de-
termined policy of the general government
IN Furnishing the practice of polygamy, and
in Withdrawing from the peo-
pie political privileges usually en-
loyed by the people OF other
territories, with the influence of our civil
ization, would gradually force the people to
make change, and that whenever the
change should come it would lead to the
organization of political parties. There is
no doubt the mass of the Mormon people
have been
SILENTLY HOPING FOR SUCH A CHANGE
for many years, and have been waiting for
the opportunity to step out from under the
shadow which has SO long darkened their
homes. That they have remained passive
so long is testimony to the force of the
influence which religious belief has upon
the minds and actions Of men, 1 believe
the mass of people have gone into the party
movement in perfect sympathy and that it
is their present determination not to re-
tract their steps,
| Mr.. Washington then says ''The Nor
mon people have divided upon political
issues, many of them going into each of the
parties and many prominent members of
the Liberal party have likewise returned
to their original allegiance, the last election
in the territory having been conducted
along the lines which divide the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties, though the
Liberal party maintained its organization
and had a ticket before the people. The
| ground upon which this organization was
| and is maintained is doubt as to the good
faith OF the people relative to poygamy
and the dissolution of the Peoples party,
both OF which matters seem to be too we'll
settled to justify any doubt whatsoever.
1.-THE purpose of this bill is simple one
ia n OF n 1art of hn A nj
| people limited power of self-governmeut.
Under it the Congress will retain all it's
existing authority over Utah. 1t does not
seek to vest absolute power in the people,
but merely to afford them an opportunity
to demonstrate their sincerity and their
capacity
TO MANAGE THEIR LOCAL AFFAIRS.
| Congress may at any time alter or annul
any act Of the territorial authorities The
bill in no wise affects the statutes against
polygamy. These remain in full force, and
tn duty of their enforcement is left where
it now rests, save that the territory is
made United States judicial district with
district court, the judge of which is to be
appointed by the President and confirmed
by tho Senate. The jurisdiction of this
court is prescribed by the twenty first sec
tion of the bin. 1t may be seen that tie
federal cover ment will retain its present
jurisdiction over offenses against these
laws.
The legislature of Utah meets bienniallv
and for the years in which it meets the
cost to the federal government for terri
torial expenses is about $1OOOOO In 1891 it
was S101, GSO.15, the legislative expense
being l,000 The Utah commission and
the conduct of election, cost annually about
$780, 600 In 1921 it cost $5l ,21S.SS. Under
this bill. If it should become d law, the
federal government will be
RELIEVED OF ALL EXPENSES
except for such officers as it would have if
Utah were state. That is to say, for the
officers not necessary to the administration
of justice through the United States dis
| trict court all other expenses will be borne
by the people of the territory. The act
creates three new judges Of the supreme
court, three new JUDGES of district courts,
and an attorney general. In place of the
commissioner of schools it creates a super
| irtendent of public instruction and makes
all the officers elective, whereas under the
present system the President appoints the
governor the judges and the secretary, the
/ former of whom in turn appoints the treas
urer and auditor, and the supreme court
! appoints the commissioner of schools.
THE ACT ABoLIsHES THE UTAH COMMISSION
and vests the power of that body in the
| governor the secretary and the three com