The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-29
IN OFFICE
A FEW ELECTED AND A FEW AP-
POINTED.
LATTER BY IHE PRESIDENT AND SENATE
The Senator Denies That the Mormon Church
Sought Statehood as a Shield for Po-
Iygamy. Utah Demands the
Closest Investigation,
Closest Investigation.

Washington, Nov. Ex-senator Raw
Inns, of Utah, for the present the sole
representative of that State in the Sen
ate, issued a statement today denying
certain charges against his State on ac-
count of the election of MIR. 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 prac-
ticed with impunity. lne statement is
in part as follows:
Utah, both IN her constitution and
statutes has provided for the punishment
of polygamy and all kindred offenses.
mo complaint has been made CIR can
truthfully be made that these laws are
not enforced.
During the past year the State has
been raked in search of cases of polyga-
my with which to feed this new modern
sensation, but no complaint mas been pre-
sented against amy man charging him
with this offense.
Some cases of unlawful cohabitation'
have been prosecuted and punished.
SO far Utah has sacredly kept the
compact.
''But lit is charged that the people of
Utah have elected polygaqnists or persons
in that status to office.
This is true in some instances, and
it is equally true that the United States,
acting by the President with the com
sent of the Senate has appointed polyg-
amiSts to office and under such appoint
ments for almost three years these polyg-
amists have held and are now holding
important Federal offices in the State of
Utah.
1.-THE people of Utah are ready for this
issue. They propose to stand by their
pledges and keep absolute faith with the
nation and they do not propose to rest
under any suspicion to the contrary
''Now that this question is raised, and
the moral sentiment of the country is
alarmed they propose to demand a
searching investigation and will be found
rendering full aid to any remedial meas
ures deemed necessary to give assurance
to the country that polygamy cannot live
anywhere in the United States, or in any
place over which they have jurisdiction.
ITO this end at the first opportunity
/ shall ask the Senate to pass this reso-
lution
BE it resolved by the Senate of the
United States that the Committee ON
Judiciary is hereby instructed to inquire
into and report to the Senate, first, to
what extent polygamy is practiced or
polygamous marriages entered into in
the United States or i'm 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 cf Utah, and if so, has
such election been for the purpose of
encouraging polygamy or i'm violation of
amy compact between said States and
the United States. Third, have polyg-
amists, or persons reputed to have more
than one wife, been appointed to office
by the President, by ard with the advice
and consent of theiSenate, or in cases
where the concurrence of the Senate is
not required, and if so have such APP
pontments been made in aid of polyga-
my or in violation of the compact be-
tween the United States and the State
Cf Utah with reference to that subject.
Fourth, what, if any, steps should be
taken or measures enacted for the pre-
vention of polygamy in the United States
and in places over which they have jUr-
isdiction."