The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08
MIR. Morgan's Resolution Regarding
Naval Officers and the Canal Prob
ably Shelved for Good.
OMNIBUS BILL OPPONENTS
TRYING TO EFFECT COMPROMISE
ON THE STATEHOOD QUESTION.
Want to Admit All Four Territories
as Two States-Democrats
Opposed to the Plan.


continued, but did not conclude, his speech
on that subject, and toward the close of
the day there was general debate on the
allegation Of the opposition to the bill that
it does not contain sufficient safeguards
against polygamy. A large number of bills
to which there was no objection were
passed during the day. Mr. Morgan's res
olution requesting the secretary of the navy
to forward papers on file in his department
concerning the movements and corre-
spondence of naval officers in Colombian
waters was sent to the committee on ma
val affairs, where it probably will sleep.
Among the bills passed were the follow
ing: Authorizing the promotion of Major
Crawford Gorgas, surgeon in the United
States army; for the relief of Capt Joseph
NJ. Smms, Of the United States revenue
cutter service; providing for the holding
of term Of the Circuit and District Court
of the United States at Kansas City, Kan;
providing for the appointment of an addi-
tional judge In Indian Territory and d.
viding the southern district of that Terri
tory into two divisions; for the relief of
the owners of the brig Olive Frances; di-
viding the northern judicial district of
Alabama into three divisions; authorizing
the construction of monuments on the Get
tysburg battlefield; authorizing the set
Element of accounts of officers of the army
during the recent war with Spain; for the
protection of wild animals, birds and fish
in the forest reserves of the United States;
authorizing the erection of an addition to
the building for the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing at Washington, to be used as
a laundry and stable, with cost limited to
Of fhn &c
and settlement of claims of circuit and dis
| trict clerks of the United States courts for
the years 1899 to 1901; for the relief of the
sureties of Captain Howgate.
Among the private pension bills passed
were two for a pension of SIS each to the
widows of Generals Siegel and Negey. The
Senate also passed a number of bills for
the correction of military records
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Kean
read from a book of travel by a German
author to show that polygamy now exists In
the Mormon Church in the Republic of
Mexico and the fact commented on
by Messrs. Beveridge, Spooner and Depew
as gong TO snow mat the contention that
polygamy had been abolished is not well
founded. Mr.. Spooner asked Mr.. Rawlins
whether the revelation for abolition had
covered Mexico.
Mr.. Rawlins referred him to the docu-
ments, saying he did not care to put any
construction upon them, but Mr.. Hoar re-
marked that possibly the revelator had not
been able to speak Spanish"
Mr.. Rawlns added later that as he re-
called President Shows proclamation for
bidding polygamy 1T had covered the Nor
mon Church throughout the world. Mr..
Depew read the proclamation to show that
polygamy had only been suspended and
not prohibited. He thought another reve-
lation from the Mormon Church should be
forthcoming.
IF the senator wants an authoritative
statement in the Senate or the subject he
may have all his doubts removed next ses-
sion when the new senator from Utah takes
his seat, remarked Mr. Bacon.
That" replied Mr.. Depew, lis the only
argument that L have heard for the adms-
sion OF Mormon to the Senate
MT Teller expressed the opinion that not
outstanding the declaration of the book
Mormons in Mexico. He did not believe the
people or the priests of that country would
tolerate the practice. He added that it was
his conviction that the question of polyg-
amy is entirely foreign TO the subject of
statehood He went on to say that the
question was a mere bugaboo which had
been brought in only for the purpose of de-
lay.
Mr.. Spooner took issue with the last state
ment and urged the Importance of the SUBJ
Ject With me 1T is no trifiing matter, no
mere question OF delay, and when we are
told here that the Mormon Church controls
elections in a State now in the Union 1
think We must admit that State was not
prepared for admission" He meant TO re-
fer to the matter in the future and he
hoped that he would not be charged with
filibuStering.
Replying Mr.. Teller contended that the
few Mormons in Arizona would not be
capable of controlling elections there. So
small a consideration should not, he con-
tended, stand in the way of promise made
in the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to adj
init as States the territory acquired from
Mexico.
Mr.. Spooner said that long as the bill had
been pending Mr.. Teller was the first to
break silence on the Democratic side of
the chamber.
Mr.. Teller said the reason why the Demo
Gratis had not spoken was found in the fact
that they did not want to assist In the de-
lay which he believed had been precon-
certed, prearranged and studously followed
by what he believed to be the minority in
the Senate. The Senate then went into
executive session and at 4:50 p. m. adj
journed.