The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-27

Utah. This action on his part was in
line with his expressed feelings upon
the subject. Senator Harbour does not
believe in militia.
The military title of the code was UP
for consideration in relation to battal-
ion organization for artillery. when
Senator Harbour moved to strike out
the entire title, which would have the
effect Of disbanding the guard, mas
much as there would be no law for
its government.
Senators did not fall over one an
other in an attempt to second the mo-
ton. On the contrary. there was a
thick mantle of silence resting over the
chamber for some moments. Finally
it was broken by Senator Snow, who
said: y will second the gentleraan's
motion for the purpose of getting it be-
fore the senate"
Senator Harbour, in support of his
motion, said he did not believe in main
tanning a militia. 1t was contrary to
the genius and spirit of our American
institutions to maintain a standing
army. which, under our laws, had only
one duty to perform, that of protect
ing ourselves from ourselves. And how
publici In foreign countries, where
governments are held together by
bands of Steel standing armies may
be necessary for the preservation of
the sovereign power. but here, where
the people rule, there is no excuse for
the existence of bodies of armed and
drilled men.
Looking over the history of the mod
ern militia. the speaker said he could
ices amounted to anything, except in
the suppression of Indians, and in
these days it would be conceded that
the Indian was so well suppressed the
militia would be needed no more The
militia is never called out to protect
the interests of any workingmen, and
but one instance of the kind where
they were found arrayed on the side of
the worSingmen is recorded-when
Governor Waite called them into serv-
ice at Bull Hill, Colo. There is no use
drilling men to go out and shoot down
their fellow beings. The people in
Utah are not going to engage in riot,
and when trouble begins there are
plenty of citizens who will aid in sup
pressing all trouble. 1t is the duty of
the peace officers TO preserve the peace,
and TO do so they have power to sum-
mons as MANY good citizens as they
may need.
EVANS CHAMPIONS THE GUARD.
Mr.. Evans championed the cause of
the National Guard. Replying to Mr..
Harbour he said it was not true that
the militia made up a standing army.
Without going into details, he would
say there might be times when they
would be needed in future as they
have been in the past. He recalled the
-i-if IF fla INC
came when he was mayor of Lehi. The
city and the citizens fed them for two
or three days, perhaos, longer than
they should. The army went away,
but returned and stole an engine which
they ran over onto the tracks of the
Rio Grande and would have escaped
with the train but for the vigilance of
a nightwatchman who detached it and
had the tracks torn up.
The army began replacing the
tracks, with the intention of going on,
and the citizens OF Provo were power
less to cope with it. They would have
gotten away with the engine and train
but for the fact that the governor or
dered out the militia and prevented it.
Had the militia not been ordered out
the damage which would have been
done could not have been estimated, |
and for that damage the state would |
have had TO pay.
NEBEKER IS HUMOROUS.
Mr. Nebeker of Tooele INDUCED in a
bit of funny work at this point. Neb- |
aker of Tooele is somewhat of a joker Z
and at times he fairly bubbles over
with gleeful globules. Yesterday was
7ne of those times. Said he: MIR. [
President. am opposed to striking out (
his title and abolishing the militia.
oil Of
0ers of the militia and l do not want
hem to lose their clothes. If you abol-
sh the militia you viii comnel them
o give up their government buds and
hen they will have none. 1 shall vote
70"
Several people laughed. inclu=<s
lebeker himself, and the incident
losed.
Mr. Whitaker said he did not see any
particular need Of a militia. but would
lot vote 10 strike out. In these days
when we are preaching Peace on
arth, good will to men," armed men
re not needed. If the money ex-
,ended in militia, was used in employ
ng idle men there would be no need
f militia.
But the constitution of the state pro-
ides for a militia and makes its sup
ort mandatory upon the legislature.
{ the people want it abolished they
an change the constitution. Mr..
Whitaker would not vote to strike out.
he motion to strike out failed-ayes,
nays. 16.
COLLECTION OF TAXES.
Mr.. Snow presented an amendment
roviding for the collection of all taxes
Z all kinds by the county treasurers.
Ir. Snow maintained that it was the
est system. II was a question of con-
TO the taxpayers primarily.
Though this was not the principal !
ne. Besides, there would be a great {
aving in the cost of tax collection, {
hich is now too large.
Mr.. Evans, who represented a county
hich has more towns affected by this ]
w, if it was passed, opposed the
easure. 1t was not necessary; was
IT asked for. The saving was moth {
e. In the speakers home (Lehi) the !
ty treasurer received a salary of $50
sr year-a trifiing sum-and he pre- {
lmed Lehi was a fair example. The {
w was unnecessary and should not &
enacted. II is against local self
and if carried to its log '
al conclusion the legislature might as {
ell provide for the payment of all
ate and county taxes at the capital. I
Mr. Snow said one would infer from &
.suments made that Utah county was c
e only one affected, when there are 7
hers. The operation of the law would
a step in advance. If county assess
s can assess for all taxes then
unity treasurers can collect. The
'esent law is a relic of antiquity and
ould be abolished. [
Mr. Smoot said he was willing to '
limit m the accusat ton of being a I