Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-08
PLURAL WIVES IN MEXICO
senate Discussing Statehood Hears
tor Could Not speak spanish.

WASHINGTON, Feb. The statehood
bill again today claimed the greater share
Of the senate's attention. Mr.. Kean IN. J)
continued. but did not conclude his speech,
and toward the close Of the day there was
a general debate on the necessity Of in
serting safeguards against polygamy
A large number OF bills to which there
was no objection were passed
Senator Gallinger IN. h presented a
partial report Of the conference on the
bill increasing pensions to ex-soldiers who
had lost limbs He stated that the house
had changed the rates materially. The re-
port was adopted and further conference
ordered.
Mr. Morgan (Ala.) again called up his
resolution calling for papers concerning the
movements and correspondence of naval
officers in Colombian waters.
Mr.. Hales (Me.) motion to refer this
resolution to the committee on naval affairs
prevailed by a strictly party vote Of 81
to Is. The resolution was therefore re-
ferred and when Mr.. Morgan complained
that Il would not be acted upon by the
committee Mr.. Hale replied that it would
not be favorably reported in it's present
| form with his consent.
The senate then passed the following
bills: Authorizing the promotion of Major
William Crawford Gorgas, surgeon in the
United States army; for the relief of Cap
tain Joseph d. Sims OF the United States
| revenue cutter service; providing for the
holding of circuit and district court of the
United States at Kansas City, Kan; Civ
ing pensions OF SIS each to the widows of
Generals Sgel and Negley for the pro-
| lection of the public forest reserve and
national parks of the United States.
Mr.. Kean then resumed the statehood
| debate and read a book of travel by a
| German author to show that polygamy still
| existed in the Mormon church in the re-
public Of Mexico This fact was after
ward commented upon by Messrs. Bever-
idge Und), Spooner (Wis.) and Depew
| IN. " as proving the contention that
| polygamy had not been abolished.
Mr., Spooner asked Mr.. Rawlins (Utah)
whether the revelation for abolition had
covered Mexico. Mr.. Rawlins referred him
to the documents, saying he did not care
to put any construction on them, but Mr..
Hoar (Mass.) remarked that possibly the
revelator had not been able to speak
| Spanish"
Mr.. Rawlins 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
revelation from the Mormon church should
be forthcoming.
| Mr.. Bacon (Ga.): "If the senator wants
an authoritative statement in the senate
on the subject. he may have all his doubts
removed next session, when the new sena.
tor from Utah takes his seat"
That" replied Mr.. Depew. sis the onlJ
argument that have heard for the admis
sion OF Mormon to the senate"
Mr.. Teller (Colo.) expressed the opinior
that, notwithstanding the book quoted. po
lygamy did not exist among Mormons IL
Mexico. He did not believe the people Of
the priests of that country would tolerat,
1t. However, II was his opinion that polyg
amy was entirely foreign to the subject o
statehood.
Mr. Spooner took issue with him, ant
urged the Importance of the matter.
with me It is no trihing matter, M
question of delay, and when we are toll
here that the Mormon church controls tn,
elections in a state now in the union, w
must admit that that state was not pre-
pared for admission"
Replying Mr.. Teller contended that th'
few Mormons in Arizona would not be cap
able OF controlling elections there. 81
small a consideration should not stand il
the way OF a promise made in the treat,
| of Guadalupe, Hidalgo, to admit as state
the territory acquired from Mexico.
The senate then went into executive ses
/ ofn ~ A. adf