The Dickinson press., 1883-09-22
SIOUX FALLS CONVENTION.

the work of the constitutional convention could
well be pronounced finished by Saturday next
If such labor as was performed to-day were
kept up. About half of the committees have
reported, and those that have not submitted
reports have them nearly ready to place before
the convention. Tomorrow the scope of work
will be in the hands of the committee
of the whole. The ~strictest rules of economy
are observed in the matter presented. Whilo
considerable specific legislation is referred to
the legislature very much of it COOS there.
"Coopered, that is referred, with instructions
is a general desire to SO franc the constitution
that the State cannot become involved in debt
The report or tho committee on county, State
and municipal indebtedness contained q Sec
ton which provides that
The State shall not loan its credit or make dona-
tions. except in case of public calamity. In aid of
any individual association OF corporation. nor sub
scribe to or become the owner OF the capital stock
OF any association or corporation, nor engage in
any work of internal Improvement. Another Soc
ton provides for defrayinp extraordinary expenses,
making public improvements, ETC.. but stipulates
that the aggregate amount shall not exceed $780,
OOO.
These are but sample instances Of the safe
guards that are thrown around the powers
usually granted legislatures by constitutions.
The trainers Of this constitution are bent on
making q basis OF State government for future
generations, as we'll as one on which they
may be admitted to Statehood. Two other
sections bear upon the powers Of counties,
cities and towns to
INCUR INDEBTEDNESS
They cannot incur an excess of 5 per cent of
assessed valuation and interest must not accu-
Mulate. section on public accounts and ex-
pcnditures provides that the legislature cannot
grant extra compensation to any public officer,
nor authorize the payment of any extra claim
after contract has been made. A wide scope
of freedom is presented in the lengthy bill of
rights. Among the clauses embraced in it are
Liberty Of the press. free religion. trial by jury,
etc. Persons before conviction are made bailable. ex.
cept in capital ofenses; writs of habeas corpus not
to be suspended: the grand iury to consist Of
twelve " persons o., ;t any !. ri n.ne OF wnom may nav IND n an IN
jury system. No "ex-post facto" law can be passed
by thelegislature. No distinction shall be made be-
tween resident aliens and citizensin reference othe
enjoyment or descent of their property. No per-
son can be imprisoned for debt. The military shall
be in strict subordination to the civil power. Writs
of error are never to be prohibited by law. No tax
is to be imposed without the consent of the people
Yesterday. IN adopting tho report from the
committee on elections and right Of suffrage,
the section giving woman tho ballot at echool
elections and making her eligible to hold
school offices, was stricken out. 1t came back
to-day from the committee, couched in differ
entlanguage, but implying the same privileges.
Two reports were submitted from the commit
tee on rights of married woman. ana it is not
improbable that considerable debate will be
had upon the question.
They involve. the majority say, the real and per-
sonal estate. of every female ACQUIRED before mar
rage aud all property of which she may afterwards
become entitled by gift. grant. Inheritance or de-
wise. shall DC and remain the estate ana properly of
such female, and shall
NOT BE LIABLE FOR III DEBTS,
obligations or payments Of her husband. and may
be devised or inserted by her as If she was unmar-
ried: that the wife shall have an absolute one-third
of all the real estate Of her husband owned by him
atthe time OF his death, as her dover: while the
minority. believing in giving the husband a fair
property, and all earnings of every married man
or woman shall be and remain his or hers: and the
property of the husband or wife shall not be sub
ject to the control nor be liable for the Debts or
obligations OF the other. and may he devised by
will by either the same as il unmarried: but the
homestead Of any family not exceeding 100 acres,
not included In any city or village. nor exceeding
$4,000 in value within q city or village. owned by
the husba nd or wife, shall not be sold by one With
out the consent of the other. and in case Of the
death of the one the other shall become the sole
owner of the homestead.
A resolution from Judge Moody was received
ana referred, which Instructed the executive
committee to take into consideration and re-
nert.a proposition for Incorporation into the
ler's, ton. providing forlimiting the pardon
ar of tho governor by creating a board
JOe.n upon whose recommendation and
+lo,,s alton, shall o pardon be granted.
'ie!e, PROHIBITION AGAIN.
of l5ia number of petitions were received
ING, fferent localities, asking that prohibi-
Dusllsubmitted to a vote of the people when
institution is presented for ratification.
GNare few who believe the issue can be es-
7,ric, and that it had better be voted upon as
.irely separate measure from the consti-
Vim. A committee will be appointed to de-
Use q scheme for presenting the question to q
popular vote. Many who oppose prohibi-
ton favor submitting tho question with the
constitution on the ground that it will bring
out a full vote. An effort will be made to have
iNoOrnOIn tad in fha cNnatifrtiOn a p1.ovisiON for
other time than that ''' Prescribed TO for
the election of governor and members
of tho legislature. The preamble presented
yesterday does not give satisfaction because it
contains too much ancient history. The ju-
dietary have been asked TO draft another one.
During the consideration of the report of the
committee on education and school lands, an
effort was made to incorporate A. @. Mel
!ette's amendment to require the leg;
text books, to be changed not oftener than five
years, and being defeated by u close vet, will
likely com up. again. A strong effort was
also made to amend the minimum price fixed
upon school lands, making it $l5 or $17 an
corporated. While the report of the
the legislative committee was under
consideration. Il. j. Campbell of Yaukton in
strong Language arraigned the acts Of tho last
lcSiS1dtuACs WulCu no LDou OdlQuuUlo, uuu d
b.otch upon the name of Dakota. He NAM
tainnd that tue log rolling by the governor was
a disgraceful abuse Of executive power, and he
hoped the cons tuition would
PROVIDE AGA1NTs SUCH ABUSES
in the future. His remarks were in eupporto of
the thirty third section of the legislative COM
mittee's report which read:
Any governor on this State who asks, receives
OF agrees to receive any bribel upon any under
standing i. s that his ofiiial opinion. Judgment or action
G0au De 1OuueOc6I thereby. or who gives or Offere
OF promises his official influence in consideration
thai any member of the legislature shall
eiys bis ds official onS n,r yS,s or I'D. inda u
any question or matter upon DO Which he may be re-
quired to act in his official capacity. or who
1nenaces any member by zhe threatened use Of his
any member that he. the. said gov
~rnor. VII appoint any particular person
OF persons to any office created. or thereafter to be
give his official vote or influence to any matter
pending. or thereafter to be introduced iuto ether
house OF the said legislature. or who threatens any
Office or position with intent 10 in any manner in
iduence the official action Of the said member, ehall
be punished in the manner now o: that may here
after be provided BY law: and on conviction there
Of shall forfeit all right to hold or exercise any
of dsn Of trust OF honor in this state.
fions other than banking and municipal have
become 30 complicated and numerous, and SC
many ideas arc being presented that il was
asked that the committee be increased Elk
membsrs more. all of chem from the formed
committees. The committee stated that they
request was refused An indignation
meeting Of the delegates aud cit zens is
announced to take place. at the close of the
work of the convention, for the purpose OF
passing resolutions condemnatory Of the pres
ent executive, and joining in q protest to the
president of tho nniraA' 6. atos opsipek lila 20.