Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1884-12-12
Hampton Re elected.
COLUMBIA, 8. c., Dec. 9.-The legislature re-
elected Wade Hampton United States senator.
Congressional

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec, Ex-senator Hale called up
the naval appropriation bill which at the close
of last session was in the hands of q conference
committee, and as to which that committee
reported they had been unable to agree. lie
moved that the senate further insist on its
amendment and order new conference. So
ordered. Senator Sherman introduced q bill to
provide for the erection of statue to the
memory of Lafayette. Senator Slater called
up the Oregon Central forfeiture bill. but the
senate, by q vote of 20 yeas to 80 nays, refused
to consider it. It was then decided by q
party vote, yeas "a, nays 25. to take up the bill
for the admission of Dakots, republicans voting
| in the affirmative and democrats in the mega
tive. The Dakota bill has thus secured right of
way for o'clock. The Texas Pacific railroad
land grant forfeiture bill was made the special
order for Tuesday next The bill to amend
those sections of the revised statutes which pro-
hibit the delivery of registered letters and pay
ment of money orders to lottery companies was
passed. The amendment consists in striking
out the word fraudulent, so as to cover lotteries
generally and not merely fraudulent lotteries
The bill passed providing tor the ascertainment
of claims of American citizens for spoliations
by the French prior to the 31st of July, 1901.
The Dakota bill was then taken up.
Senator Harrison addressed the senate. He
said the movement for admission of the new
state mad originated where such movements
ought to originate, with the people of the ter
ritory The discussion of it's admission to the
Union could. of course, assume the shape of
party discussion, but that was shape un-
worthy of so important q question. To con-
slider the application of the peop,e for admis
sion to the Union from point of view as to it's
relation to the future of political party, was
to consider it from a lead FAR below that of
statesmanship. He believed the feeling in the
territory was almost unanimously in favor of
division between the northern and southern
mission of the whole territory as single state
could not be acceptable. Judged by the popu-
lation and producing capacity, Dakota was
entitled to admission. In 1870 the improved
lands ana farms in the territory comprised
42,645 acres; in 1880, 1,1504l3 acres The
number of farms in the territory in 1870 was
l,27O; in 1880, II, 439. The value of those of
1880 being 1922 2,4O0, 900, and the total lue of
agricultural products that year $l5524, 900.
This was a greater valuation than could be
stated for several states As to capacity to bear
| the expenses of state government, the terri>
tory was already defraying nearly all those
expenses in territorial form of
| government. With regard to the question
of how much population should entitle
| territory to admission state there had beeh
no rate established by congress. 1t had been
suggested that population should be required
| at least equal to the unit of representation in
the lower house of congress, which at this time
would be little over 100000 persons. Few Of
the states, however, had had population enough
| at the time of their admission to bring them
within that rule; no state since the admission of
Missouri, in 1921, had population sufficient to
entitle to one representative in congress. 1t was
therefore matter of discretion of congress; but
even on basis requiring such population be
believed that with the naturally rapid increase
of population in the territory. the portion pro-
posed to be admitted would in census taken
at this time show enough population to entitle
it to two representatives. Taking up the ques
ton of the ratio of voters to population and
the hearing of that question upon the admis-
sion of Dakota, Senator Harrison states that the
vote of Dakota in 1880 was 28,426
while in 1884 it was $1,000, an
increase of 57,574 voters in four years.
OF the $1,000 votes nearly two thirds have been
cast in southern Dakots, the portion seeking
admission to the union. Estimating only four
Inhabitants to voter, southern Dakota would
now have population of 100000. In 1880 it
had population of 135,l77 or proportion
482 inhabitants to each voter. If it were OBJ
iected that the proportion allowed was too
large he would look at some other states. The
proportion of voters to inhabitants in Florida
in 1880 was one voter for every 5.22 inhabitants;
Georgia, one in 9.27; Missis 'ippi, one in nearly
10; Louisiana, one in 967; Alabama, one in
8.46; Missouri, one in 5.45. The average OF
these six states gave one in little more than
eight inhabitants toeach voter. SenatorH Harrison
criticised the report of the minority of the COM
mittee on territories, represented by Senator