New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-24
THE UTAH CONSTITUTION

TIL. nreparatjon Of Territory for Statehood
t. olw,vs an interesting though not necessarily
= GRATIFYING spectacle. In the case or utah there
e. M reason to doubt the proprety or admitting
q new member 10 the Union. The Territory is
and long has been amply qualified for political
autonomy in respect TO population wealth. ana
;r.o,l;,encc. and II IS rs certain as any human
,,rosnoc, can he that 1t will continue to have
rond and solid growth. The deliberations or the
constitutional Convention which has recently
oomnetcd ITS labors and adjourned have not at
,r,cted much attention In this part OF the coun-
,ry but they have been followed with Interest
nv Western communities, and in Utah have nat'i-
rally cngrossed the thoughts or the people whose
welfare is SO vit1lly concerned. The Constitl-
tion which has been formulated and VIII De SUD-
mittel TO the popular judgment next fall Is not
in most respects novel or remarkable 1t II con-
s,dered by Western papers which have devoted
some study to its provisions to be III general
performance which would not invoke much praise
or censre excepting for the single feature grant
Ing the right Of suffrage to women 1hat Is the
nroysion which has been most strenuousy al
yocated and opposed In the Convention ana
which will make the popular campaign OF 'his
summer exciting II not bitter.
otherwise the Constitution Of the coming State
is essentially conservative. As might have Deeh
cxp,cted the representatives Of remarkably
thrifty people have been very economical In set
ting no the machinery Of sclf-goyernment. The
salaries proyid ID for officers Of the State in all
departments are small and In some cases even
paltry. Judged by familiar standards. The Gov
ernor is 10 receive $1,000 a year and most OF the
Stat. officers will get considerably less II Is
worth noting that the fee system when mas
opcratcd 10 discrcdt and dcfraud many com
nunitics is almost entirely oblterafed III ''ah'
and that the limits Of State and mnnclpai III
drbtcdness are rigidly restricted. As might nave
been anticipated Also thorough hDcral ana
progressive educational establishment Is project
ed for the new Commonwealth. The judicial
system Is singularly simple rs 1t is CONSTITUTION
ally outlined aud some apprehension has been
EXPRESSED lest tn. endrayOr TO get rid OF anti
uult,L and cumbersome forms may have in
yolyo,I some misohevous abandonment OF prece-
dents. Grand .Iures. for example. are abol-
ishc, except in special circumstances. Informal
tIou takes the place Of Indictment. and the trial
Jury Is to consist Of eight instead Of twelve per-
sons three. fourihs Of whom may render YER
diet in civil eases. unanimiiy being required 10
was dead upon which assumption consent 10 the
admission Of Utah ~ II State was finally given.
Is Justified by the permanent prohibition Of pli-
raj marriages.
A. has been said. The question OF woman sur
frag- was debated long and fsrvenily Ia the
Convention aud viii BE- The chief subject or dis
,us.lnu among lie people. \ small minority.
r,ur,,.utlng To. Gentle element of III. populi-
ilou. cnmliaicd TIL, concession. and 'ndravor'd
10 have II submitted go popular vote ~ seIa-
rat. proposition: but they were d"cisiycy de-
f.at.l In the Convention They must renew
their appeal therefore. Ia the campaign just be-
ginning md their protest at The polls II they are
determined 10 carry their opposition 10 ieat ex-
tent. ~ which there appears 10 be- no doubt what
.v.r Their contention WAS THAI The br~iOwal
~ ih. franchise un women would place aud keep
In. stat. under the control ~ the M"rmon'.
Whether A contest on that ground. poly sAny
b.lug done away with. j. suggestive ~ pr"Ju-
dice. or ~ prudence : not apparent at this dis
lance \ correspondent of The Chicago Inter
Ocean" 10 whose summary ~ The work ~ the
Convention ". ~. indebted for numerous slate
m.nts in This article reports !, il practically GER
tain that the Constitution. including. Of course
th. suffrag. section. viii be- ratified 10y majority
~ ,yothirlS estimating the vote ~ about 1000
and tina, the new State VIII be- Republican.