Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-19
A AB111wH1cH sHou1DPAss.

ABILLwH1CH sHouLDPAss.
Delegate Kidder has introduced into the
house bill to secure to territories the right
of local self government. 1t provides for
election by the people of each territory Of
governor, secretary, chief Justice and two as.
sociate justices of the supreme court, audi
tor, treasurer, superintendent of public in.
struction and commissioner Of immigration.
The bill provides that the terms Of these
elected officers shall begin OH the first O.
January, 1879, and shall continue until their
successors shall be elected and qualified. 1t
gives to the legislative assembly of each
territory power to provide for such elections,
to fix the length of the terms of Office of each
elected official, to make laws for impeach-
ment and removal, and to designate the sal
ary which each official shall receive, with
the reservation that there shall be no in
crease of compensation over that now estab-
lished by law. The bill further provides
'sthat for the purpose Of encouraging settle
"ment of the public domsin, and aiding in
"the formation and government of the COM
"munities established therein, there shall be
Annually paid from the treasury Of the
"United States, commencing on the 1st day
"of January, 1879, to each organized ter
"ritory, the sum of $25, 900, to aid in main
"taining the government thereof; which
"said sum shall be in lieu of all appropria-
"tions heretofore made for legislative, exc
"cutive and judicial salaries and expenses
s'of the several territories" The bill was
read twice, referred to the COM
mittee on territories and ordered to be
printed.
This is measure Of vast Importance to
the people of the west. and if residents Of
territories are consulted and their desires
complied with the bill will speedily become
law. The interests of territories have too
long been made the shuttlecock of national
politicians, to be tossed hither and thither
and back and forth between men who seek
only personal aggrandizement and who are
wholly without sympathy for the people
over whom they are finally placed. They
come to us usually from afar of, are strangers
to our people and to our ways. Generally
they have no we'll defined intention of re.
naming with us beyond the period for
which the United States government pays
them for services rendered and though they
may afterwards change their minds upon
this point the first years of their presence
do not develop much sympathy or fellow
ship between them and the people. This i,
the inevitable result of the present system
appointments and however we'll disposed
an appointee may be he cannot come into
territory and gain the immediate full con
idence and respect of those over whom he
is placed. 1t is not until he has been lonl
enough among them to become one
ofthem that the natural popular prejudic'
wears away and the officer becomes
really useful in his position. The people
ofterritories are very similar in their mak'
up to the people of the states. They are
possessed of notions about liberty, equality
and voice in public affairs which is thu
heritage Of every American citizen and
they are impatient under the restraints o.
asystem which deprives them Of all parti
cipation in the choice of their rules. They
submit because they know that future state
hood will bring them relief. We very mucl
doubt if intelligent men would settle in tn,
territories but for this promise of the com
ing time. But how much better for us al
it would be if we could manage our owr
internal affairs we need not say: The de-
velopment of the west would come more
speedily if all its matters were managed by
those who have made their homes anc
placed their investments within its limits
and feeling of more complete fellowshir
would extend its sslutary influence through.
out all classes of our population We look
upon Mr.. Kidder's bill as one which should
become law. The entire new west il
interested in its passage and general ef-
fort should be made to secure it.