The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-17
MUST REGISTER
PLURAL WIVES
Speaker Of House Proposes
Some Unique Legislation.
GLASMANN'S OBJECT TO
WIPE OUT P0LYGAMY
Railroad Corporation Bill In
trOduced in Both Houses.

! Speaker GIasmann dropped a bomb
into an otherwise tame session of the
house yesterday, by introducing a bill
providing that all persons who con-
tracted plural alliances prior TO 1891
must register such marriages before
jan l, 1902, or be deemed guilty of big
amy The penalty prescribed for men is
fiat twenty years in the penitentiary
For women the penalty is fixed at not
less than five nor more than ten years
Imprisonment.
The house seemed TO take the bill hu-
mOrously- HoIzheimer wanted it re-
ferred to the committee on education.
Page suggested the livestock committee
as the proper place. but the speaker or
dered the proposed law sent to the iu-
dietary committee after its second read
ing
The first section of the bill provides
that every plural marriage celebrated
prior to Jan. I, 1891, and now existing
in the state Of Utah, may be registered
and recorded in the Office of county
clerk in the county where the plural
wife resides. Every person living in
plural marriage contracted prior to 1891
may appear before the district judge in
the district where such person or per
sons reside and testify to such plural
marriage and present at least two com
petent witnesses other than the parties
living in plural marriage, who shall tes-
tify under oath that they have knOWl-
edge Of the parties living as man and
wife prior TO 1891
When such evidence has been pre-
scented to the satisfaction Of the court
the bill goes on, the court shall issue
a certificate under the seal of the dis
JriCt court. certifying that said plural
marriage was contracted and existed
prior TO the year 1891. Every person
living in plural marriage shall register
before the county clerk prior to Jan. 1,
1902.
Failure Invites Bigamy Charge.
Those who fail to so register shall
be deemed guilty Of bigamy and the
men shall be punished by confinement
IN the Denitentiary for a period of
twenty years at hard labor. For women
the penalty shall be not less than five,
nor more than ten years confinement"
Continuing, the bill provides that if a
plural wife wants a legal separation
from her husband. she can secure it on
application to the district court and
shall be entitled TO reasonable aIimony
Children of plural marriages contract
ed before 1891 whose parents register
such marriages, shall be considered as
legitimate.
Last night Mr.. Glasmann was asked
his purpose in introducing the bill at
this time We'll. I have several pur-
poses" he replied First 1 want to
forever put a stop TO polyg my in Utah /
Second, It Is charged that many people /
have violated the state constitution and /
the manifesto by taking plural wives /
since 1880
II want to give such people chance 1
for twenty years free board at the /
state penitentiary. Next, I want to 4
convince the nation that the people Of 4
Utah are in earnest in their endeavor /
to suppress plural marriage. It is, and 4
has been charged that some Of the good /
Saints go to other countries and enter
into plural marriage
These could not be touched under
our present laws. Under the law pro-