The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-12

The lower house of the legislature
last evening, after stormy session
lasting over three hours, decided that
the recent senatorial contest should be
thoroughly and impartially investi-
gated; that the members should not
sit in judgment on their own cases.
but that the whole subject should be
referred to an unbiased commission,
composed of the governor. attorney
general and three justices of the su-
preme court.
This result was reached after an
acrimonious. and at times stormy de-
bate, and prolonged efforts to defeat
action by dilatOry tactics. Peacemakers
IN vain attempted to quiet the tempest,
and the bitterness increased as the
contest proceeded.
SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS.
Some ver- sensational statements
We're made during the debate. Mr..
: ,1zimball declared that the investigation
might unseat members and even land
them behind prison bars.
THATCHER MEN AGAINST IT.
Several members who had supported
Thatcher openly and emphatically dis
avowed any responsibility for the reso-
lutions and repudiated the charge that
they were presented by the Thatcher
faction. After it had been decided to
invite the governor. attorney-general
and supreme court judges to conduct
the investigation. the author of
the resolutions withdrew his sup
port and labored to defeat the
measure. but its passage was
then insisted on by what may be
termed the Rawlins side, and it was
adopted by a vote of % TO u.
Many members expressed grave
doubts as 10 whether the officials desig-
mated would consent to serve on the
commission, but if they decline, it was
declared TO be the purpose to provide
some other mode for creating an un-
biased tribunal. The prediction was
freely made that the measure would
be killed in the senate, but senators
who attended the house session eX-
pressed the belief that it would be
PASSED in an amended form.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The resolutions We're finally adopted
in the following form:
Whereas, 1t has been frequently
charged in the newspapers and on the
floor of this legislature that there has
been interference by some church digni-
taries in Utah in the recent election or a
United States senator, and that such in
terference affected the result of such
Rlectlon ana proved so enectual that IN
casting their votes many members of the |
legislature did NOT give expression to !
their own will, or the will of their con- I
stltuents, but rather TO the will of their |
ecclesiastical superiOrS and that such in !
1luence was in violation of sections l, /
and II of the Declaration of Rights in !
the constitution of this state; and.
Whereas, Said charge injuriously af- |
fected the reputation not only of the |
senator-elect. but of every member OF /
acvse trrra nc well he 81 "
and good faith of such church dignitaries (
and the standing of this state among !
the states OF the Union: and.
Whereas. Said charges are being denied |
and their authors denounced throughout |
the state as disreputable and unworthy;
Therefore, Be il resolved by the house. |
the senate concurring. that a committee |
consisting of five members composed of |
the governor. the encouragement and !
Hie three members of the supreme court,
be requested to inquire and report to
this legislature.
Ffrst-Whether. in the late election of
the United States senator any member
of this legislature was controlled by the
ecclesiastical influence to vote for or
against any person for the Office of
United States senator
Second-Whetner any member of this
legislature has been intimidated by
ecclesiastical superiOrs because of the
fear of the infiiction or reception of any
spiritual or temporal advantage or dis
advantage. punishment or reward of any
kind for the giving or Withholding OF his
vote iOr any cdnulQ&Lt DtLOIe Ine ieSlS-
lature of the state of Utah, for United
States senator.
Third-Whether any one holding any
ecclesiastical office or authority in any
church has requested any member of the
legislature to vote or refrain from voting
for any person for such office for senator.
on the ground of allegiance TO any church
or as a condition of future fellowship or
disfellowship in any such church
Fourth-Whether any member of this
legislature voted for or against any candi-
date for the Office of United States Sena-
tor because of the relationship or attitude
of such candidate TO any church or
That said committee is hereby COM
nanded, empowered and authorized to in
quire into the following subjects peril
nent to the inquiry herein:
First-As to whether or not there was
any influence. ecclesiastical or otherwise.
used for or against any person who was
a candidate for United States senator
from Utah before the legislature of 1897.
or whether any such influences were used
to coerce. intimidate or otherwise con-
troll the vote of any member of said legis-
lature on said question.
Second-To inquire whether any in
huences of any kind were used by any
person or persons known as the apostles
of liberty or any supporters of said
Ls1pstles without regard to their political
- sflilection or ecclesiastical preferences.
sfhird-TO inquire into the amount or
OF money expended by the re-
k9ective candidates for United States
Senator or their managers or supporters | !
in the campaign for the election of a :
United States senator, and to whom paid /
when and for what specific purpose.
Fourth-To inquire into the question as
to what amounts of money, If any. was
attempted to be used by any of the can
didates for United States senator. or
their managers. supporters or agents. for
the purpose of purchasing votes and
bribing members of said legislature. and
if said committee should md that any
money was attempted TO be used for any {
purpose it is commanded to inquire into {
all the facts and report the same to the
legislature of Utah. I
Fifth-And said committee is command
ed 10 inquire into all other influences, !
whether ecclesiastical or otherwise. and !
to inquire into the alleged fact whether
oI not any of the newspapers of Utah S
Save been subsidized. assisted bought I
n purchased in the interest of any can !.
didate for United States senator; and if