The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-29
RAwLINs MAKES STATEMENT.
Says Utah Does Not Countenance or
Uphold Polygamy

Washington, Nov. 2S.-senator Rawlins
of Utah, for the present the sole represen-
tative of that state in the Senate, issued
a statement to-day denying certain
charges against his state on account of
the election of Mr.. Roberts to the House
of Representatives.
Senator Rawlins says there is no truth
in the claim that the Mormon Church.
by deceit and fraud, brought about the
admission of Utah into the Union, so that,
behind statehood lines, polygamy might
be practiced with impunity. The statement
is in part as follows:
Utah, both in her constitution and
statutes, has provided for the punishment
of polygamy and, all kindred offenses.
No complaint has been made or can
truthfully be made that these laws are
not enforced.
During the past year the state has been
raked in search of cases of polygamy
with which to feed this new modern SEN
ed against any man charging him with
this offense.
Some cases of unlawful cohabitaton'
have been prosecuted and punished.
80 far Utah has sacredly kept the COM
pact. But it is charged that the people of
Utah have erected poygamists, or persons
in that status, to office This is true in
some ms ances and it is equally true that
the United States, acting by the President
with the consent of the Senate, has APP
pointed polygamists to office, and under
such appointments, for almost three years,
these polygamists have held and are now
holding i'm. ortant federal offices in the
state of Utah.
The people of Utah are ready for this
issue, They propose to stand by their
pledges and keep abso ute faith with the
nation and they do not propose to rest
under any suspicion 10 the contrary.
Now that this question is raised, and
the moral sent ment Of the country is
alarmed, they propose to demand a search
ing investigation and win be found render
ing full aid 10 any remedial measures
deemed necessary to give assurance to the
country that polygamy cannot live any
where in the United States CT in any pace
over which they have jurisdiction
'To this end at the first opportunity
shall ask The Senate 10 pass this resolu-
ton:
BE it resolved by the Senate of the
United States, That the committee on ju-
dietary is hereby instructed o inquire into
and report 10 the Senate first, 10 what
extent polygamy is practised or polyga-
nous marriages entered into in the United
States or in places over which they have
jurisdiction.
Second, have polygamists or persons
reputed TO have more than one wife, been
elected to Office by the people of Utah, and
if so, has such election been for the pur-
pose of encouraging polygamy or in viola
ton of any compact between said state
and the United States
Third, have polygamists, or persons re-
puted to have more than one wife, been
appointed to office by the President by and
with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate or in cases where the concurrence of
the Senate is not required and if so, have
such appointments been made in aid of
polygamy or in violation of the compact
between the United States and the state
of Utah with reference TO that subject.
Fourth, what, if any steps, should be
taken or measures enacted for the preven-
ton of polygamy in the United States and
in places over which they have jurisdic-
ton"