Show THE UTAH COMMISSION The Commissioners appointed un der section 9 of an act to amend section 5352 of the Revised Statutes of the United States in reference to bigamy and other purposes approved March 22 1882 made a preliminary report on the 31st of August lash and another report on the 17th of Novem ber which are herewith submitted It appears by these reports that the Commissioners entered into the discharge dis-charge of the duties assigned to them under said act and have given diligent dili-gent attention to the same Rules were adopted for the registration of voters and the conduct of elections Registers were appointed as nearly as practicable in conformity with local law excluding however all persona ineligible under the Congressional act The registration of voters having been completed under the laws of Utah the Commissioners decided not to commence de novo bat to review the list applying the principles of said Congressional act From the rt > art of the register of voters it appears that the total registered regis-tered vote was B4266 of which 18772 were males and 14494 females and that about 12000 males and females were excluded from legislation hy reason of polygamy The Commissioners report that during dur-ing the campaign preceding the November No-vember election for delegate to Congress Con-gress The people of all classes manifested a lively interest in public affairs and attended the political meetings in large numbers and such meetings were characterized by exceptional ex-ceptional good order good humor and decorum The Commissioners appointed the week before eleoion five gentlemen of character to canvass the votes who in the presence of the Commission on the 16th of November discharged that duty declaring that John T Oaine had received 23039 votes and Phillip T Van Zile 4884 The certificate cer-tificate was accordingly given to Mr Caine as the duly elected delegate The Commissioners recommend the enactment by Congress pf a marriage law declaring that all future marriages mar-riages in the Territory of Utah shall be void unless solemnized in a publio manner with proper witness and that a public record be made thereof The Commissioners also recommend recom-mend the repeal of the law conferring the right of suffrage on the females of that Territory declaring that in the judgment of the Commission said law is an obstruction to the speedy soma tion of the vexed question and also suggest that the first or legal wife be declared by act of Congress a competent witness in all prosecutions for 50 polygamy bigamy or unlawful ouhabiting Speaking of the law under which they were appointed the Commissioners say But sofa so-fa it has been a decided success in excluding polygamists from the exercise exer-cise of suffrage and we are of opinion opin-ion that the eteady and continued enforcement of the law will place i polygamy in a condition of gradual j extinction and that the domination i that is complained of by nonMor 1 mona in Utah and elsewhere will I at no distant day be much ameliorated amelio-rated In accepting the trust committed com-mitted to us it was not expected by the Commission and we suppose not anticipated by Congress nor the Executive Ex-ecutive Department of the government govern-ment that the desired results would be accomplished at once nor in the brief space of a few months but there is reason to believe that the operation op-eration of this law and other influences influ-ences are setting strongly in the direction of reform an1 that the hitherto dominant faction will be supplanted sup-planted by Young Utah in the conduct of public affairs The Commission further say II Our attention has been called to the propriety of our recommending congressional con-gressional legislation of a radical character but we are not inclined to advise such measures unless upon further observation and experience the wisdom and necessity of such leg islation shall be demonstrated Report Re-port of Hon H 31 Teller Secretary of the Interior |