Show HIQHLKPBICED COMMISSIONERS It is clear that the President is not highly pleased with the Ed munds antiMormon law nor is he particularly struck with its curative cura-tive provisions He has asked Congress Con-gress to fill one important omission before the law goes into effect namely to provide for the salaries of the five commissioners and the three or four hundred registration officers which the bill contemplates He also suggests that in view of the important and responsible duties of the commissioners the pay of those officials be increased from 3 000 to 5000 a year in order that he can induce capable men to accept the places This is a rather severe se-vere reflection upon the other federal officials in the territories the highest salary attaching to any of these offices being 3000 But the President is eminently correct cor-rect nevertheless The powers and duties of the commission are extraordinary extra-ordinary and men above the ordinary ordin-ary only should be appointed to the responsible positions which are to so materially affect the interests of a whole community There are thousands of men who would be glad to obtain a commissionership at even half the salary named but they are just the men that the territory terri-tory does not want and a humane President will not nominate There will be suffering and hardships with the ablest and purest men as commissioners The law contemplates cruelties But good and able men can reduce those cruelties to a minimum and this is what President Presi-dent Arthur evidently desires should be done In view of the executive communication to the Senate on the subject we may expect Congress will soon again be wrestling with Utah affairs and while they are at it let us hope they will do something some-thing with Edmunds law to make it intelligible and operative |