The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-25
THE DAKOTA BILL.
The Measure for the Division and Admis-
sion of That Territory.

The Measure for the Division and Admis-
sion of That Territory.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 23-The bill providing for
the admission of the southern part of the Terri
ritory of Dakota as a State, which the Senate
committee on Territories to-day agreed to report
favoraby, is similar in many respects to the bill
reported by that committee at the last session
of Congress. 1t is, in most features like the or
dinary enabling acts and provides for the or
ganization of a State to be known as Dakota,
from that part Of the Territory of that nane
south of the 10Th parallel. A constitutional CON
vention is to be held the second Tuesday in De-
cember, delegates to be elected Nov. IA next
This convention is to include l20 delegates the
unusually large number being required to fully
represent the people Of the embryo State. Del
egates are to be elected from single districts
Usual grants of land for educational pur-
poses are made and provision ineisded
requiring the new State to assume the
debt incurred for the erection of such public
buildings as are located within its limits The
bill leaves the northern part of the Territory
with Il territorial organization, but its name haS
not yet been agreed upon. Pembna North
Dakota. Mendon and other names were urged
upon the committee, but selection has been
made, and the committee is open to suggestions.
DeiegdIlonS al present III the city nave insisted
strenuously on the name of North Dakota but
the committee while approaching the natural
tenacity felt for the name, have unanimously
decided that it would not be a good selection
Senator Harrison to night, in answer to an in
quiry as to the chances of the bill passing Con-
gress, said: Il have no doubt that it viii pass
the Senate if get consideration for it.
and think we can. don't think the Democrats
there will antagonize it, because its provision
would not admit the State before the presidential
election Southern Dakota has a population
sufficient to elect two members of Congress.
If we cannot pass the bill this session,
am sure it will go through
at the next session. Bismarck is
tory, subject to the decision of the convention.
can't see what excuse a Democrat can have for
opposing the BILL
Senator Manderson emphatically approved the
views expressed by Senator Harrison. Hereafter,
he thought, regard ought to be had in admitting
States for the preservation OF mean size and
prospective population. 1t was time the North
west should make its voice heard in national af-
fairs.
Senator Wilson had not given much thought
to the question, but was in favor of the division
and admission of Dakota 1t would be but siIL-
pie justice to its people and would relieve the ma
tional government from some expense.
Representative Murphy was bitterly opposed
why the Territory should be divided ana IL
would take long argument to convince him to
the contrary. Others might veil opposition in
sophistries, but he would be frank and say he
opposed the bill for political reasons. No Dem
oclat was going to take any chances of allowing
more Republican votes to be cast in the next
Electoral College.