Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-05-17

Flandrau Enterprise.
The Brookings Press calls upon the En-.
terprise to enlighten it as to the evils of
the capital commission bill. Wei
think that the editor of the Press is bet
ter posted upon the subject than he pro.
feeses. The evils of the bill are that it
was conceived in sin, and born in in.
iquity," and whether the commission
now does the best it can for the territory
or not, it is an evil. It is always an evil
when any result is brought about by
evil means. 1t is great evil when the
Will OF the people is thwarted by corrupt
trade in political conventions. It is q
great evil when legislation is secured by
corrupt means or undue influence. The
success of men or measures by improper
methods has q dsmoralizing effect
upon the community. It is al
fact that 1t was found impossible to
get bill through the legislature remov.
ing the capital to any particular point.
1t is fact that an understanding was
reached during the session of the legis-
!ature between the governor and . num-
Der OF his enemies in the legislature, and
as result of that understanding the
enemies became his friends, proposed
laws of meritorious character which
the governor considered inimical to him
we're squelched, and the governor signed
umber of lavish appropriation bills,
some of which he had previously stated
that he would not sign, and large part
OF this understanding related to the cap.
ltal syndicate, and an agreement as to
the division of the spoils which should
result. It is known that a syndicate
was organized and stock company was
formed and shares of stock were printed
and issued. The object Of this syndicate
or stock company was to pocket the
profits and would inhere in the re.loca.
tion of the capital. Among the leading
spirits engaged in organizing this syndi.
cate were Gov. Ordvay, Geo. d. Walsh,
Alex. Mckenzie, Alex. 81. Hughes, one
johnson and others. This syndicate
then proceeded to their work. All kinds
of suasion were brought to bear upon
the members of the Legislature to induce
them to support the scheme It was
agreed that members voting for the bill
should receive SIS. 900 in stock of the com.
pany organized, and they were informed
in some instances at least. that their
stock could be Immediately converted
into 5000 cash. if the cash WAS preferred
to the stock. A practice was made in
the latter part of the session of defeat
ing all bills of general character intro
duced by members who opposed the
commission scheme. The veto power Of
| the governor was also held over the heads
of the members as menace in case they
would not support the commission bill.
OF all the many appointive officials,
commissioners of various kinds, regents,
trustees, ETC., almost without exception
they were selected BY the governor from
prominent supporters of the bill or were
appointed by him upon the recommenda.
tion of those members Of the legislature
who voted for the bill. The rail.
roads were bulldozed into silence by
the introduction of bills hostile to their
interests. When the commission bill
came before the house every amend
ment offered in the way of providing ad-
ditional safeguards, or increasing the
amount OF land required to be given to
the territory, was defeated by an unvary-
ing vote which subsequently passed the
amended bill, 9 fact that indicates q
through Just as it was. Great difficulty
was experienced BY the syndicate in Sc.
curing the support of majority of the
secured, but the rub was on the seventh.
It was found that Councilman Jerauld
could be induced to support the bill
if the compensation of the commission.
ers was cut down from ten to six dollars
q day, and the amount of land to be
given was increased from thirty to one
hundred and sixty acres. Before acced
ing to these terms desperate efforts were
made to secure the seventh man in some
other way. The offer was made to move
the capital temporarily to Sioux Falls
and to make Sioux Falls the place fol
holding o. 8. court il Councilman Jack
son would vote for the bill. He refused
the bribe and the syndieat,
had to come to Jerauld's terms. N,
honest measure is ever pushed through
, any legislative body by such means
we're used to carry the commission bill
As to what the syndicate intended tn
commission to do, We do not know, bu
: it is q fair presumption from the know
, facts in the case, that they intended t
fix things so that the commission woul,
locate the capital where the syndicat
wanted it located.