Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-08-16
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Delegate Pettigrew Gives the
Alleged Status Of the Divis-
ion and Admission Projects.

Alleged Status or the Div1S-
ion and Admission Projects.
The following interview appears
in the st. Paul Pioneer Press Of the
7th inst. It is incorrect in some
important particulars. The face
value Of the railroad bonds is $780,
GOO and the interest about $125, 600.
The valuation OF Yankton county is
nearer $500, 600 than $4,000:
Hon. r. +. Pettigrew Of Sioux
Falls, delegate to congress from Da-
kota, was in st. Paul yesterday.
Approached by Pioneer Press re-
porter with interview aforethought,
Mr.. Pettigrew fought shy on politics
but talked freely on several matters
Of great public Importance.
"What can pou tell me about the
status of the bill for the division Of
Dakota?" asked the reporter.
"Well, it is on the calendar in the
house Of representatives and before
the senate az unfinished business, !"
said Mr.. Pettigrew. "Whenever the
bill is put to vote it will be carri-
cd. Senator Saunders reported the
bill in the senate, and changed the
name North Dakota to Pembina--
although in other respects the bill lie
substantially mine. l protested
against the change Of name, and
when the bill gets back to the house
/ shall move to amend by inserting
North Dakota, for that is the name
q majority Of the people prefer.
Senator Saunders went SO far as to
say that he would not report the
bill at all unless North Dakota was
stricken out and Pembina inserted.
There is no question whatever but
that the territory will be divided at
the next session of congress.
"How about the admission Of Da.
kota a. a Slater"
Chairman Burrows OF the house
committee on territoties thinks the
bill 70 admit Dokota will pass; but
there will be hard fight on it, for
parties who hold the Yankton coun-
ty bonds are determined not to per-
init the territory to become state
Until the bonds are paid, or secured
TO them satisfactorily. The Yank-
ton bonds in face value represent
$3.50, 600, and there is accrued inter-
est to the amount Of $150,O0O. 1t
would require tax Of ten per cent.
on the entire county to iquidate the
indebtedness, for the assessed valua-
ton is not more than 81 100000. l
think Yankton started out to make
q settlement at fifty cents on the
dollar--a pretty clear attempt at
semi-repudiation. As things now
stand the county would probably
settle at the face of the bonds if
they could be renewed on long time
at q low rate Of interest. But for
these bonds the bill to admit Dako-
IA ~ q state would certainly have
passed. You sec the holders of the
bonds argue that 80 long rs Dakota
remains territory the government
Is responsible for the value OF the
bonds issued by Yankton county,
congress having authorized the is
sue; but that the moment Dakota
becomes state the governments
obligation is ended and then the
bonds would be repudiated. Now
the holders of those bonds have i'm
huence enough in the senate to de-
feat the state bill there. So the
matter stands this way: Dakota will
be divided al the next session of
congress, sure; and southern Dako-
IA will never be admitted as state
until those Yankton bonds are SET
tied ID some way to the satisfaction
of the holders Of them; at least not
while the senate remains 50 close as
il now is. The democrats, Of course
do not want Dakota admitted, and
they make . strict party fight on il;
and there are enough republican
senators who want 70 see the Yank.
ton bonds paid 70 defeat the project
Of admission"
Now, sonething about the polit-
ical situation ~
1lH Ell the republican convention
il called 70 meet It Grand Forks, |
Wednesday, Septsmbcr 9th. There
ere several gentlemen who evidently