Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-03-27
Grand Forks News

Grand Forks News.
AS new facts relative to the capital
removal scheme and the Vaccinations of
the schemers come to light, the record of
the transaction becomes more Infamous
and the part that leadlsg legislators
played in it more perfidlous. When the
necessary minority to put the measure
through both houses had been obtained,
by the most diggraceful means ever re-
sorted to by legislative body, the bill
came up in the council for passage, the
house having adjourned SO that the
matter could go forthwith TO
that body and be passed nnder a
present twelve of the fourteen council
men, divided as follows: In favor Of the
bill as it afterward became law-Bur-
dick, Jerauld, McCanley, Nickeus, Rob.
erts, Walsh and President Scobey; op.
posed to the bill without it was amended
80 that there would be at least partial
excuse for it's passage-Dewey, jackson,
Mcintosh. Washabaugh and Ziebach-7
to 5. Fourteen amendments were offered
by the gentlemen in the minority, all of
which we're defeated-7 to 5.
Among the amendments offered was
one by Mr.. Dewey proposing to state
the place of residence of each of the nine
commissioners named in the bill. This
was sat down upon by the now immortal
seven. not that it was seriously objected
to. but because it was offered by the
minority.
MIR. Washabaugh desired to insert the
name of A. ]. Plowman of Deadwood in
place of John p. Belden. The "charmed
circle must not be broken; so the
amendment was lost.
Mr.. Dewey offered the following to be
added to section of the bill:
Provided, that the action of the said
commission in. the selection of place
for the seat of government shall be ap.
proved by q majority vote of the people
of Dakota, said question to be submitted
at the next general election after the sc.
lection is made by the said commission;
and if the selection thus made be not ap.
proved by majority vote the commits.
sion herein provided for shall cease tc
exist after the declaration of such result
This amendment would have knocked
the whole scheme into q cooked hat
Although the commissioners are to re
ceive about $4,000 for their ''valuabI,
services" directly from the people ant
as much as they can get indirectly, tn,
seven wise councilmen who hold stool
in the syndicate did not think the com
mon lsrd of taxpayers should have any
thing to say about where their capita
should be located and the amendnen
was defeated-7 to5.
An amendment by MIR. Ziebach t
vote upon the question ut special elet
tion to bs held in May met with th
same fate.
Another amendment by Mr.. Dewe
was as follows:
No members of the said board of com
missioners shall purchase or own, eithe
in his own name or that of another, O
be in any manner interested either di
rectly or indirectly in any share in th
ownership of any real estate within tel
miles of the site selected for capital
or be interested in any contract Q
letting pertaining to the building or fu,
nishing of any buildings, within tw
years from the passage of this act; an
the fact of receiving any money .or othe
valuable consideration arising from til
sale of real estate SO situated, or frol
such contract or letting, shall be deeme
sufficient evidence of having been i,
terested IN the same, and any violatio
| of this prohibition is hereby declared
felony and shall be punishable upu
conviction theteof, by fine not NOR
than five thousand dollars, or by in
prisonment in the territorial peniter
, tiary for term not less than three
| more than ten years, or by both fine an
imprisonment at the discretion of tt
. court.
Squelched-7 to 5.
Mr.. Dewey then offered ali amendmel
r applying the previous amendment to IL
governor and members of the legisl
ture. That too, was defeated to 5.
And SO the bill went throng h the cou
J. Gil; the house reassembled: the rules su
pended; the bill was passed; the COVE
nor signed it, according to contract; til
removal commission was fact; the 10
had been lcgalised; the legislature az
S lourned.
If political damnation does not owe
take every man engaged in the deplor
$ BILE and detestable outrage, then =
I greatly mistake the intelligence of IL
people of Dakota. Every feature of i
composition-the manner in which 1t W
: put through the legislature; the mea,
;, used to secure majority; the make I
e of the commission; the formation of
/. syndicate to gobbIe what by right b
longs to the taxpayers; the opportur
e ties, which are plainly visible upon Il
l face of the bill, for the rankest kind
e speculation, both in the selection of
j. site for the capital and the constructic
of the buildings-stamps it as gro
infamy and should forever brand its a
klo Ill.
lasting contempt.
, Grand Forks News.