Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-03-03

VOAu0y W 40 1ut1VDOCSlOu Au tu0 uOubC
and its reference to . committee; The
public has yet had no opportunity to
study it in detail. Tho majority in the
house refused to permit it to go to the
public printer to be printed, as is custo-
mary with all bills Of general interest.
1t is we'll enough understood here in
Yankton who are the instigators
and projectors Of the measure. Gov
ernor Ordway heads the list and with
him are Captain Hughes, Of Yankton,
Alex Mckenzie, of Bismarck, E. p.
Wells, of jamestown, Judson La Moure,
of Pembins, George H. Walsh, Of Grand
Forks, Mr.. Dickey, Of Valley City, and
doubtless some others. The syndicate
is composed largely Of northern mon and
this leads to the suspicion that north
ern point may be selected as the capital
site. In the manipulations of tho syndi-
cate the town Of Ordway was popularly
q few days ago, but the com.
mission, if created, will have unlimited
license as to territory. It is proposed to
appoint three commissioners from the
north, one from the Black Hills, one from
the seventh legislative district, one from
Yankton and three from other portions of
southern Dakota. Fhe commission will
be in harmony with the prime movers in
the project, who will probably have as
much to aay about the location of the
capital as the commission itself.
1t is thus proposed to take from the
representatives Of the people in their
legislative capacity the power to decide
where the seat Of government is to be
and to place it in the hands of the repre-.
sentatives Of a combination of capitalists.
Nine men selected by interested parties
are to do that which the organic act oi
Dakota says must be done by the legisla
tive voice Of Dakota. Tho public need
not for inAtant consider that the good o.
Dakota - contemplated in this measure
Tho men engaged in pushing it ar,
among Dakota's shrewdest business men
Most of them are successful land specula
tors and townsite boomers. The pursuit.
of wealth is their vocation. The ides
that they have any other object in view
than speculative one would probably
be received by themselves With great
distrnst.
When the Huron bill was pending it wa
generally understood that the governor
intended to veto it il it passed, and the
efforts of the friends of that measure
were to secure for it two.thlrds vote. i
Is now generally understood that he vii
sign the new measure if it passes. 4
Legislative location of the capital is no
SO satisfactory to his excellency as q 10
cation of capital by nlne men selected
by himself. If the people of Dakota ar
unable to discern the African in tn
woed pile their vision must be yer,
much impaired. The commission bill
has gained much of it's strength from tn
fact that numerous local measures Q
importance to their authors await hi
signature and their disapproval at thi
late period of the session would be thel
end.
In connection With this commisio
bill is another measure which needle t
become law in order to give vitality {
this proposed unconstitutional act. Th
organic act Of Dakota, which 10 its COL
stitution, says (seotion 1855:
assembly shall proceed 70 locate and sstabiis
the seat Of government for the territory !.
subject to be changed by the governor and lei
islative assembly.
No possible construction of the lei
guage employed can take the powe
thus guaranteed by congress from IL
Legislature and place it
the hands of commission delegate
by an inferior tribunal. This is recol
nized, but scheme is on foot to circun
vent the law. Under the rulings Of cour'
and tho methods of applying legal 81
actments Of. this nature only certain Q
ficials are armed with the power TO con
mence actions for the enforcement Of Il
foregoing congressional enactment. a
! the laws Of Dakota now stand the di
trict attorney would be the PEI
son to commence operations. Under Il
proposed arrangement the Office Of alto
ney.general is to be created and the 60
ernor empowered to appoint him. vii
the consent of a majority Of the coune
Should such bill psss the attorne
general would be the person to prooei
in the premises. II he should be d
posed to neglect his duty there is !
| force to compel him to perfofm 1t.
We have endeavered to give q comp
hensive view Of the situation. more I
the information of the outside pub
than for those who arc now at tho oal
4 tai. Persons who are in Yaukton ful
4 understand the shape of affairs and t
, extent of the motives which actuate Il
extraordinary piece Of Legislation.
Fl It was remarked yesterday. by jur
er of high qualifications and position, Il
IL "if one one.hundredth of all he b
"a "a heard about this scheme was true, it '
Re Re the most corrupt piece Of business u
ever came under his observation" 1t
: safe to say that great many one.hl
is ,-.,u.. A..