Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 October 1883 — Page 1

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL.

ESTABLISHED 1823.

WLiEISr INDICATIONS. For Tennessee and the Ohio Valley—Fair weather, winds shifting to northwesterly, stationary or slight fall in temperature. THE GUESSES OF THE NUMBER OF SHOT IN GLASS GLOBE NO. 2 AT TIIE WHEN Which are widest apart are 1.500 and 3,794,263. All others have been squeezed in between these two extremes. These guesses are for the WATCH and CHAIN, which are given from the Gents’ Furnishing Department. Do not forget this fact: No‘ matter what you wish to buy in Clothing or Gents’ Furnishings, the prices quoted by the WHEN will be found to be lower for same qualities than can be obtained from any other store in this city or State; if not, we will relund the money upon call, and the buyer is the judge. We had rather have our goods than your money, if you are not pleased with your purchase. W HE N.

THE CHICAGO MARKETS. A Cotton Failure in England Causes Values to Recede. Special to tlio Indianapolis Journal. Chicago, Oct, 30.—There was a pause in speculation to-day in the leading markets on 'Change. There was a better feeling in wheat at the opening and prices were advanced under active trading, but later on the cotton failure in England and the heavy selling of Beam and others caused a reaction, and 'Values receded, the closing figures being He ■under yesterday’s quotations. On call, the market was irregular, but closed firm, with heavy sales of December and January. It is about an even battle between the bulls and bears. Vessels were engaged to carry 80,000 bushels East. The stock of wheat increased 271,000 bushels. Corn exhibited a good speculative feeling, but closed about !4c lower. On call, the market was stronger, with moderate sales of November and May principally. Vessels were chartered for 490,000 bushels. Holders of November corn are quietly selling their property. Oats are a shade lower, but firm, j- Pork is fractionally higher and steady. : Lard closed unchanged. The liny In Detail. To the Western Associated Press. Chicago, Oct. 30.—The following is the visible supply of grain Oct. 29: Wheat, 7.698,000 bu; corn, 1,918,000 Du; oats, 219,000 bu; rye, 935.000 bu; barley, 103,000 bu; total all kinds, 10,902,000 bu; against 4,970,000 bu at the same time last year. Regular wheat was active, unsettled and irregular. Foreign advices were more favorable and prices early advanced *BC, became weak, declined a.® 7 8C, and closed >4C lower than yesterday. The sales ranged at 92a.®93 3 80 for October, 93%®94c for November, 90%a9G'40 for Decemler, 96'e@D7 1 40 for January, $1.03*3® 1.0458 Tor May; spring, 93 1 3®935na; winter, 990 ®sl. On call the sales of regular were 1,100,000 bu at tee lower to tec higher. Corn was In good speculative demand. There was a fair shipping business. The market was easier, averaged lower prices, declined SuS'se, and closed isffSse lower for November and May than yesterday, but the other options were about the same. Pales ranged at 4C l a®47ofor October, 46 5 8®47 I se for November, 4058@46%e for December, 46*4®46°8e for tiie year, 46®46t4c for Jauuar.v, 48 1 4@48=80 for February. On call the Helen were of 475.000 bll at tfle higher, laarf ■ v - Oats' Was easier; cash oals were lu fair demand and deferred futures dull and quiet. Bales ranged at 27 7 e@2Bc for October. 27 7 s®2B'sc for November, 28 1 4®284tc for December, 27*4® 27 7 5 c for the year, 28*3®25%0 for January, 31V3>31. 7 se for May. On coll tlie sales were of 215,000 bu; prices unchanged to i*o higher. I’ork was active on speculative account. It advanced 5®150, and closed steady. Sales ranged at $10.30® 10.37% for cash; $10.20® 10 35 for October, $10.25®10.37 1 3 for November, $10.35®10.50 for December, $lO 20® 10.2781 fur the year, $11®11.12 1 3 for January, $11.15®11.20 for February. On call the sales were of 5,500 brls at 28ic higher to 7Hso lower than yesterday. Lard was fairly active, unsettled and nervous. It ruled firmer at .05®.07*30 higher early In the Say. receded, and closed steady. Sales ranged

at 7.20®7.25e for cash; 7.22*3 87.250 for October, 7. 17*3 ri7.27*3,' for November, 7.20®7.27 I sc for December, 7.17 1 5®7.22 1 5c for the year, 7.27 J @7.350 for January, 7.378j®7.42 8ic for February. Ou call the sales were of 4,250 tierces at .02*3®.05c higher than yesterday. AFTER MANY YEARS. An Alabama Couple Reunited Under Peculiar Circumstances. Eufaula, Ala., Oct. 29. —Thirty-five years ago John Bantwell wooed and wed Miss Jane Campbell, near Elamville. After a few months of wedded life the couple parted, owing to the wife’s jealousy of the husband. Mr. Bantwell took up his residence in Dale county, where he married, became the father of a large family and accumulated a competency. Mrs. Bantwell remained in her old home, and after a few years became the wife of a man uamed Johnson. All this took place without the preliminaries of a divorce. Recently the second Mrs. Bantwell died, as did Mr. Johnson, thus leaving the original parties single once more. Bantwell became greatly embarrassed, and was in danger of losing all his his property through the claims of his creditors. In this emergency be went to his first wife, represented his situation, and urged her to resume their relations, which had never been legally broken off, and thus, by taking advantage of the laws protecting the wife in the homestead, he could keep out of ruin. The lady agreed to the proposition, and the couple are now finishing their honeymoon so rudely interrupted thirty-five years ago. ' Trials of an luternul Revenue Collector. Louisville, Oct. 30.—Major S. R. Crutnbaugh, collector of internal revenue for the Second aistrict of Kentucky, has been on trial in the United States Court three days, charged with using official envelopes for private correspondence. To-day he was found not guilty by a jury. The indictment grew out of the efforts of certain parties to have Crumbaugh dismissed in order that they might secure his place. A large amount of soiled political linen has been displayed in the trial. The current opinion is that there lias been a conspiracy against Crumbaugh. Most of his correspondence read in the case related to his efforts to secure the position of Secretary of the Navy, and created much amusement when published. An investigation by the Internal Revenue Department lias been had, but the report and decision of Commissioner Evans was withheld awaiting the result of this trial. Indicting Chicago Brokers, Chicago, Oct. 30.—The Federal grand jury to day returned an indictment against Frank L. Loring and John Fleming, who are supposed to have been principals in tiie firm of Fleming it Merriam, which gained such extensive notoriety when it collapsed, one year ago. The indictments allege that the firm pretended to do % brokerage business on the Chicago Board of Trade, but were really bent upon appropriating to their own use the money of persons contributing to a fictitious fund, called by them the “Mutual Co-operat-ive fund.” W. Loring and Wm. W. Miller have also been indicted for carrying on a similar business. The grand jury also made a similar presentment against Charles O. Bennett and W. F. Haltzman, against whom 1 charges were preferred.

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 31, 1883.

NEWS OF THE OLD WORLD The Tonquin Question Under Oisonssion in the French Chamber. J - In Response to the Demands of She Opposition, Cliallemel-Lacour States the Position of the Government. Additional Details of die Recent Earthquake Shock hi Smyrna. A Liverpool Cotton Firm Falls for Three Million Dollars—Mysterious Explosions on a London Underground Railway. THE TONQUIN QUESTION. The Debate in the French Chamber—Cltalle-mel-Lacour’s Argument. Paris, Oct. 30.—1n the Chamber of Deputies, to-day, Granet, of the extreme Left, interpellated the government upon its policy in Tonquin, and requested an explanation of the objects sought to be obtained, and the means of conducting an expedition in that country. Granet pointed out what were apparent contradictions existing in the information furnished by the government, and said that it was contrary to official declarations that difficulties had been raised by China. Granet reproached the government with concealing the facts and distrusting the patriotism of the Chambers. Reverting to the Bouree treaty, he said that China had threatened resistance and there was danger of war. The errors of the government compromised the country. The present moment, he declared, was the critical one, and France should turn her eyes toward the passage of the Vosges. The Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the Chamber in reply to the remarks of Granet. He repudiated the idea that the Tonquin expedition was ait ad venture. The French were, he said, encountering more formidable opposition than was expected, but the difficulties were far from insurmountable. China had availed herself of the blockade on the coast of Annam to claim Per suzerainty, and home opposition had used it. At this point the speaker was interrupted by Papon, Clemence.au and Douviile, who protested against the remarks. Resuming, Chaliemel-Laconr said the government had no intention of advancing upon Hue, but it became necessary to strike the the resounding blow. The speaker justified the occupation of Hue and the forts, which had resulted in the treaty and clearing up of the situation. The Chamber then took a recess. Upon resumption of the session, Challemel-Lacour continued. He said the government had failed in none of their engagements, nor was there any contradiction between their acts. In a word, no important event had occurred making necessary an early convoking of Parliament. The French were masters of the Red river delta, and the enemy occupied but two important places, from which reinforcements would dislodge them. All documents necessary had been published, and those not published in the yellow book only showed the inconsistencies of the Chinese policy. It was clear that China had never really sought aserious compromise, but simply wanted to gain time, while France had sincerely endeavored to arrive at an agreement without accepting a humiliating capitulation. China' had never recognized the Bouree treaty, and no understanding between France and China had been effected thereon. It was evident China sought to expel the French from Tonquin. The Chinese at length decided to formulate propositions demanding recognition of their suzerainty and the evacuation of places occupied by the French, but they did not attempt to discuss the rights conferred on France by her treaties with Annam. They simply ignored those rights, declared Tonquin to be their property, and demanded that the French should retire, promising to concede to France a position similar to that which she now occupies in certain parts of China. France sent a reply stating what site considered a possible basis of agreement. The cabinet, he said, still considered the Bouree treaty inadmissible, but the constitution of a neutral zone between Tonquin and China would create a situation advantageous to France. To sum up, China demanded reversion to the state of things which existed prior to the year 1873. France, he declared, must prosecute firmly and rapidly the work already far advanced. “The negotiations w;ith China.” he added, “have been only interrupted. Let events speak for themselves. Perhaps the time will come when China will be happy to find us still ready to agree to an arrangement compatible with France’s interests and honor. France never departed from the path of firmness and moderation. Force of circumstances rendered her the representative of the interests of all Europe in the East.” He concluded by declaring the Chamber had to express confidence, not in the government, but in itself, “for,” added he, “the policy of the cabinet has been indorsed by the legislature.” After M. Challemel-Lacour’s address, M. Perrin spoke. He reproached the government for not having fulfilled its promise, and characterized the Tonquin affair as a mere adventure. Frenchmen, he said, were not afraid of a war with China, but the necessity therefor must first be shown. He thought it better to penetrate China by trade, than by arms. Twenty thousand men were required in Tonquin, and it will be imprudent to spare so many Frenchmen in the x>resent state of affairs In Europe. Additional Reinforcements Needed. Paris, Oct. 30.—1 tis stated that the French government, in view of the warlike attitude of China, will ask the Chamber for a much Inrger credit for the expenses of the expedition to Tonquin than was originally intended. Even should China only remain on the defensis'e larger reinforcements will be required in Tonquin. The government does not expect a defeat in the Chamber on its | Tonquin policy. Movement* or Chinese Troops. Paris, Oct. 30.—The Figaro publishes a re--5 port that the governor of the Chinese provI iuce oi YuuXaii, with 11,000 troops, has re-

ceived orders to enter Tonquin and occupy Coobang, 130 miles north of Hanoi, tiie French headquarters. THE SMYRNA EARTHQUAKE. The Loss of Life and Property Much Greater than First Reported. Constantinople Special. Ever since the great earthquakes of two weeks ago to-day there has been a constantly recurring succession of shocks in all directions from this city, making a circle of earthquakesof which Constantinople was the geographical center. Yet the center has not been shaken in the slightest degree. The reports which have been brought every day by Arabs from the desert, Christians on their tours, and sailors coining in on ships, have created considerable alarm here, and some of the inhabitants of the city have made preparations for hasty flight from the sections where buildings are put up close together. There seems to be little ground for fear tiit' any disaster will result here from the earthquake. Tiie shock seems to have followed the mountain chain, extending from Java beneath the sea, and through Asia Minor and thence on to the southern part of Russia, continuing westward through southern Europe to Gibraltar and tiie seacoasu The dispatches sent from here by the agent of Reuter’s Telegram Company about the disaster have been meager and unsatisfactory. Those wired to tiie Central News were somewhat fuller but neither have given any idea of the real extent of the earthquake and the enormous damage to property resulting therefrom. Rumors have been received here that severe earthquakes have been felt in Europe tiie past week, and it is thought that if such occurred, as is considered highly probable, they have been caused by the great eruptions in Java, which seems to have been the terrible beginning of a phenomenal long series of similar disasters which have not vet readied their height. Hundreds of Europeans and Americans are coming in from all over Asia Minor, and some from other sections, all frightened by the earthquakes, and flying in for their lives. Advices from Smyrna say that all through Anatolia the inhabitants have been leaving their homes and seeking places of greater safety; and that their fears were well grounded tiie developments of the last forty-eight hours show. On Saturday night tiie shocks, wiiich have been of daily occurrence for the past fifteen days, became quite severe, and before daylight nearly all tiie people in the shaken districts had left their homes for tiie open country. As soon as the sun came up the sky became suddenly overcast, and great black clouds rolled up from the east with great rapidity, in a few moments forming a complete canopy where there hail been clear blue. There was a very sudden depression of the barometer, and many animals and birds became alarmed and took quick flight. Then tiie vibrations began to increase in violence and frequency. Ten clearly defined shocks are said to have occurred before 9 o’clock. The waves then became almost continuous, extending from northeast to sothwest. As the; continued, building after building tottered, and about 11 o’clock, at which hour shocks for some unexplained reason are always most severe, there came a most tremendeus crash and the entire destruction of the city seemed imminent. Tiie walls of Smyrnicb, which have been standing since the time of the crusades, were completely demolished. With them, many of the remains of ancient Smyrna have been destroyed. On the castle hill some fragments of ancient columns were thrown down and smashed into small pieces, and many of tiie handsome monuments in tiie great Turkish cemetery were also broken. The remainder of the old walls built around the old castle on the hill are gone, and tiie remains of the castle itself are now only a heap of marble fragments and small stones. The relics of the temple within the castle inclosure are now destroyed, and the staviium in which St. Polycarp suffered martyrdom is lost to sight. Columns, busts, cornices, and other architectural fragments built into the walls of the Turkish town are broken into bits. The ruins of tiie Antique Mosque, said to have been the primitive church of Smyrna, which stood without the castle walls,"have fallen. Some distance to tiie south of the city the ancient aqueduct which crosses the Meles river,, and which is connected intimately with the memory of Homer, i3 entirely destroyed. The palace of Habzoomar, the Pasha, is in ruins. Os all the mosques and churches in the city only one is left standing uninjured. Al l the others have been either entirely or partially destroyed. Tiie large Roman Catholic cathedral. which was somewhat damaged two weeks ago, is so ranch injured that it will require fences to put it in repair. All the mission houses have been almost completely ruined, and tiie missionaries in Constantinople and elsewhere will have to contribute to the support of their brothers in distress until relief can be had from England and America. The British military hospital is shaken down, but tiie few patients under treatment there had been removed before the great crash came. Os the many coffee-houses near the Caravan bridge, over the Meles, only two are left standing. Tiie office oi the French newspaper is completely ruined, and the publisher will be unable to resume business. The stations along the line of the Smyrna and Aiden railway are all in ruins, and the tracks are twisted into such shapes that it is thought new lines will have to be run. The iron palisade surrounding the barracks on the shore is thrown down, and tiie barracks themselves are very badly damaged. The loss of life in Smyrna was not great—probably not over 125 persons—owing to the absence of so many of the inhabitants from the city, and the precautions taken for instant flight bv those bold enough to stay until the last. Some 250 people were injured while making their escape, but only a few seriously. The destruction of property and life in the outiying country and districts remote from Smyrna has been very large. All along the western coast of tiie peninsula, which presents as jagged and irregular an outline as any in tiie world —in many respects very much resembles tiie opposite shore of Greece —the shocks were so severe as to change tiie formation of the land in many places. Some of the deep bays, with bold projecting peninsulas and islands, have been almost filled up by great land slides, which came tearing down the steep declivities into the water, sweeping before them every habitation. Cos island, Samos, Metelin and Lisbos, all a few miles off the western coast of Anatolia, in the JBgean sea, were all severely shaken up, and there was large loss of life aud property jon Samos and Lisbos, while the other two ! suffered much less. One of the most curious thin.s about this severe action of nature was that Chios, where tiie destruction was tiie greatest two weeks ago, and which lies only a few miles from Smyrna, and in close proximity to the other islands affected, this time suffered only a slight tremor. Reports of large losses of life in the interior towns and along the Western coasts are coming in constantly, and though the number of killed is very large, it is not thought tiie total will be as great as resulted front the shocks of two weeks ago. At Alabanda ninety lives were

lost. A fugitive from Kespit places the deaths there at fifty, and the numoer wounded at 125. At Alt Hissar forty persons were buried beneath a land-slide, and a few more Killed oy failing walls. Bogazunda suffered a depletion oi about one-half of her population, numbering 400 souls. Os j the Singertis people about one-thira survive to mourn tiie others. From scores of other J hamlets come similar reports, and when alii are in the ioss of life will probably be found to aggregate well up in the Jbonsands. Along the coasts of Greece the shocks yesterday were very severe, and caused great loss of life and property. Advices from that section are somewhat meager. At Capau Yaila many buildings were thrown down and some eighty persons killed, while 125 more were severely injured. At Mistra some twenty-odil people were killed, and double that number injured. Monembasia also suffered considerable loss to both property and life. It is believed hero that the results all through tiie western coast of Greece will prove much more serious than now reported. Earthquake Shocks in Russia. T-ondon, Oct, 30.—Severe shocks of earthquake, accompanied by subterranean rumblings were felt at Kamieniec, the capital of the government of Padolia, Russia, on Monday evening. The shock lasted thirty seconds. FAILING FOR MILLIONS, A Liverpool Cotton Kroker Announces His Inability to Settle. Liverpool, Oct. 30.—Morris Rangor formally announced to the president of the Liverpool Cotton Association that lie was unable to meet the demands that have matured, and that he had suspended payment. Liabilities are estimated at £950,000 at Liverpool, and £40,009 in Havre. Hollinshead, Tittley & Coit, cotton brokers, have suspended. The suspension of R. 11. Forman & Cos., cotton brokers, is Bulletined at the room of the Cotton Brokers’ Association. New York, Oct. 30.—The Commercial Advertiser has the following regarding tiie cotton failure: The firm of Morris Rangor it Cos. is one of the largest in England, and is composed ot Morris Rangor alone. The firm was established in 1868, at the house of Falman & Cos., Broad street, whom Mr. Rangor was supposed to represent abroad. It is not believed that any American houses will be in the least affected by Rangor’s suspension. Messrs. Falman & Cos. deny having any business relations with the suspended firm, and can throw no light upon the extent of the failure, or as to the parties involved in this country. Morris Rangor & Cos. are reported to have bought in or made settlements for a heavy amount of September and October shore cotton, but they have anticipated this by suspending. Their short contracts outstanding are estimated at from 100,000 to 190,000 bales. London, Oct. 30. —A Liverpool dispatch says: Morris Rancor s failure will probably bring down a dozen or more Liverpool firms. This is probably exaggerated. It is said New York will be affected to the extent of £IOO,OOO. Itt the meantime the cotton business is entirely suspended. Merchants and brokers are awaiting developments. The Times says: R. H. Forman & Co.’s liabilities are estimated at £300,000. It is understood Morris Rangor’s liabilities in Livervool are tolerably well divided among cotton brokers. It is hoped generally that he will be able to meet his engagements, Rangor’s failure is generally attributed to the American system of dealing in futures, without the American system of protection—security by the deposit of margins. It is generally hoped the latter system will be introduced in England.

MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSIONS. Forty Persons Injured on a I.oiulou Underground I Hill way. London, Oct. 31.—At 8 o’clock last evening a terrible explosion occurred near Praed street, at an underground station of the Metropolitan railway. On the first alarm a strong cordon of police was summoned to keep order, clear aw.-.y tiie idlers and convey the wounded people to hospitals. Passengers on the train at the time of the explosion say there was suddenly a loud report like a cannon, then a sudden darkness, gas lights from the front to the rear of the train being put out. The glass was broken and splinters of wood flew about the cars, cutting and wounding many passengers. Above tiie din was heard tiie shrieks of the injured and panic-stricken people. All this occurred in a moment, and for a while confusion reigned supreme. The train, which was crowded, contained principally countrv vi sitors, returning from the fisheries exhibition. After leaving the station the train traveied steadily ahead, although the concussion smashed nearly ail the lamps in the Praedstreet station, and caused much damage to the permanent wav. When tiie train readied the next station, tiie first effort was made to rescue tiie wounded. Some were dreadfully burned, but more were prostrated by fright. All doctors, surgeons, and dispensaries in the neighborhood were called into requisition. The first impression was that an accidental explosion was tiie cause of tiie disaster, but later inquiries tend to show malice. The rear carriages were damaged most. These were mere skeletons. Another theory is that the explosion was caused by foul gas accumulated in the tunnel. This, however, is untenable, because no premonitory symptoms were observable. It is believed about forty persons were injured, some dangerously. Almost simultaneously with the Praed street affair, a violent explosion occurred on tiie underground railway between Charing Cross and Westminster stations. The windows of the signaling stations in the tunnel were shattered, and at Charing Cross the gjass roof of the station partly collapsed. The report is described as being like that of artillery. The effects were similar to tiiose of tne Praed street explosion, the carriage lamps, windows, etc., being smashed. All traffic was suspended for a while. Although both explosions were matters of the greatest mystery, they are generally thought to itave been of Fenian origin. The shocks of both explosions are described by the officials as very similar to the shock of tiie explosion of the local government board offices, in March last, in wiiich Dr. Gallagher was implicated It is stated that four machines similar to rocks were found in the tunnel near Praed stre-t ' 1 - jCoutiuucii uu Second Untie.j

PI MCE FIVE CENTS.

POLYGAMISTS IN UTAH. ■■ ■ ■ ■ • The Commission Claims the Crime of the Mormons Is Decreasing. Recommendations to Congress to Make. Stronger Laws fT the Territorial Leg* istature Fails to Act. Ex-Delegate Cannon Says the Mormons Are obeying the Laws. A Successor Appointed to Supervising Architect Hill—A Court of Inquiry I’renot eC tor Wildes and Garllngtou. THE MORMONS. Report of the Hoard of Utah Commissioners in Relation to Polygamy. Washington, Oct. 30. —The Board of Utah Commissioners lias submitted its second annual report to the Secretary of the Interior. After making a statement of the former legislation of Congress in relation to bigamy or polygamy, they say tiie duties of the commission appertain only to matters of registration, election and eligibility to office, while the punishment for tiie crime of polygamy is left, as under the former law, to tiie courts of justice. Under the anti-polygamy act the commission had good success at the general election of August, 1883. in excluding polygamists from the polls, and as far as advised, very few, if any, illegal votes have been cast in Utah since the commission took charge of the registrations and elections in August, 1882. Tiie enforcement of the present law against 12,000 polygamists, who have been excluded from the polls, shows that the act lias been fully and successfully executed. It is thought that the discrimination between those Mormons who practice polygamy and those who do not, while not likely to have much effect upon the elderly men who already have a plurality of wives and several families, must have great weight with the young men of the Territory, many of whom are ambitious and aspiring, and who would not like voluntarily to embrace political ostracism. The very existence of a law disfranchising the polygamist must tend to destroy their influence whenever it is understood that it is to be a permanent discrimination. The fact, also, that it will be necessary for the preservation of political influence for tiie “People’s party,” as the Mormons style themselves, to have a large body of their members, who are not polygamists, must tend in time to weaken the practice of polygamy; for every married Mormon, who takes but one plural wife, loses three votes for his party—his own and those of his two wives—woman suffrage having been established by law in Utah, Concerning tiie plurality of wives, the report says that the doctrine and practices are so odious that their being upheld so many years against the taws of Congress and the sentiments of the civilized world, is one of the marvels of the nineteenth century, and can bo scarcely appreciated even -by those familiar with the world’s history in relation to tiie difficulties of governmental control, or the suppression of religious fanaticism. Certainly no government can permit a violation of laws under tiie guise of religious freedom, and while Congress may not legislate as to mere matters of opinion, yet it may denounce and punish as crimes those actions which are in violation of social duties or subversive to good order. The right of Congress to suppress this great evil is undoubted. It is equally plain that tiie dignity and ■ good name of this great government among the nations of tiie eartli demand such Congressional action as shall effectually eliminate the national disgrace. The commission renew the recommendations contained in tiie report of Nov. !7, 1882, notably one regarding tiie enactment of a marriage law by Congress, declaring all future marriages in the Territory nuii and void unless contracted and evidenced in the ’manner provided by the act. If tiie next Legislature shall fail to adopt measures in conformity with the provisions of the act of 1882 for tiie suppression of polygamy, tin commission “will be prepared to recommend and Congress will certainly not delay, tinadoption ot tiie most, stringent meastii' s compatible with the limitations of tiie constitution that, may Vie considered nt oessavy for tiie suppression of this great evil." Tiie report refers to tin* various municipal elections, and suys the most important election was that of Aug. 9, 1883. The total number of votes east in this contest was 21999. against 27.923 iti the last November election. Tiie principal falling off' was on tins part of gentiles, or the “Liberal party.” In November the total vote of tiie "People's (or Mormon) party” was 23.030: the Liberal party, 4,881. In August. 1883. tiie vote of the “People’s party” was 20,508; of the Lib- | oral party. 1 453. From this it appears that | large numbers of Liberals have refrained | from voting, a fact much to bo regretted, for i the reason that it is believed that, by proper | effort and "good management," one or more i non-Mormons might have been elected to 1 the Legislative Assent by who would have an ; opportunity of putting tiie majority on record. In conclusion, tiie commission says: "Recently some ten suits were instituted in tho. Third District Court of Utali by tiie Mormons against members of this commission, complaining that they had been unjustly de-i (Hived of the right to register and vote.! These are understood to be test cases, de signed to contest tiie constitutionality ot they ‘Edmunds act,’ ns well as the legal construction wiiich we put upon its provisionC These suits are still undecided, and are likeljs to be apiienleu to the Supreme Court of tha United States. It has been asserted that; polygamic marriages have increased sinco tiie passage of tho ‘Edmunds act.’ On the contrary, we have the opinion of many Mormons and non-Mor-mons that they have comparatively decreased since the passage of said act. 1 After diligent inquiry we believe this latter conclusion is correct, but the Utah Legislature will have an opportunity of satisfying the country on this particular subject by passing such a public marriage act ns that jwe have suggested to Congress. By this and I such other legislation ns we have indicated they will give the government assurance o i heir lovaity and patriotism, and avert a con test that cannot but result in their Uisconv