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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSION. The report of the Utah Commissioners has been received at Washington. It sets forth the progress they have made with their work up to Aug. 31st, the date of the report. It describes the embarrassing nature of portions of the work of the Commission, and the difficulty experienced in securing proper persons to act as county and deputy registrars. We have little, if any fault to find with the report. In statement, spirit and tenor, it is about what might be expected. As it is a document of interest to many of our readers we reproduce the greater portion of it: From present indications it appears that that class of persons who are deprived of the right of suffrage by act of Congress will not attempt to register or vote. They will number, male and female, probably 10,000 voters. Many of the non-Mormons have hitherto refrained from voting, but it is believed at the November election they will cast a much larger vote than at any time heretofore. However, the business of the Commission, as understood by the members thereof, relates not to questions of parties or candidates, but to seeming so far as possible a fair registration and an impartially conducted election under the law. As before suggested, the Commission have encountered many embarrassments and complications. The opposition made at the outset by some non-Mormons of respectability and influence against holding the regular election for Delegate in Congress, as required by the law, in November next, was an unpleasant feature of the situation, but there does not appear to be, under the law, any discretion whatever for the Commission. The law demanded an election and the people of the Territory were clearly entitled to representation in Congress, if the same could be secured through a due observance of the restrictions imposted in relation to bigamy and polygamy. We did not see how we could excuse the omission of being present and prepared to proceed with the work assigned us. We should not even attempt to perform (evade?) this manifest duty, and it was decided to proceed. It was not deemed advisable, even if power was in the Commission, concerning which there was some doubt, to commence de ?? a registration of the voters of the Territory, but after very careful consideration, it was decided to order a revision of the existing registration lists in September, as required by the Territorial law applying to the same, governing the principles of the Edmunds act. We think the regularity of this proceeding cannot be questioned. Its effectiveness will be equal to an entirely new registration, and we believe the result of the election will so demonstrate. In the preparation of the rules and regulations to govern registration and the conduct of election as before stated the labor of assimilating the acts of Congress and the local election law was tedious and perplexing, involving much greater responsibility than it was agreeable for the Commission to assume, but to accomplish the results by the provisions of section 8 of the Edmunds act it became necessary to use all the powers conferred. A later embarassment [embarrassment] came in the form of a demand on the part of certain Mormon (non-Mormon?) citizens of high character that the Commission should assume jurisdiction and decide the local statute, authorizing women to vote, to be illegal. We concluded it was not competent for the Commission to repeal or modify that statute in the manner suggested; that the principle of female suffrage is in no respect in conflict with the purpose of the Edmunds law, and therefore that the Commission had nothing whatever to do with the subject. Moreover, we found on investigation that this statute has been in force twelve years without being adjudicated in the courts of the Territory or disturbed by Congress. In conclusion permit us to say we believe the results to be reached through careful registration are already assured, and an impartial election, which can hardly fail to follow, will be satisfactory to the Government and the country. In closing this report, it is due to the Territorial Secretary, who is ex officio Secretary of the Commission, Arthur L. Thomas, to say that the Commission has received from him valuable assistance in the work, particularly in the matter of the selection of registration and other officers. Very respectfully, Your obedient servants, Alex. Ramsey, A. S. Paddock, G. L. Godfrey, A. B. Carlton, J. R. Pettigrew. |