The Indianapolis journal., 1884-12-10
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.

Senator Harrison. Argues in Favor of the Ad-
mission of Dakota.
WASHINGTON, Dec 9-Mr. Hale called up the
naval appropriation bill, which, at the close of
last session, was in the hands of a conference
committee, and as to which that committee
ported that it had been unable to agree. He
moved that the Senate further insist on its
amendments and order a new conference, which
was so ordered,
Mr.. Sherman introduced a bill to provide for
the erection of astatute in memory of Lafayette
Mr.. Slater called up,the Oregon Central land
forfeiture BILL but the Senate, by vote of 20
yeas to 80 nays, refused to consider it, It was
then decided, by party vote-yeas 81 nays 20
to take up the bill for admission of Dakota
the Republicans voting in the affirmative, and
the Democrats in the negative.
The Dakota bill thus secured the right-of-way
for o'clock.
The Texas Pacific railroad land grant forfeit
bill WAS made special order for Tuesday
next.
The bill to provide for the sale Of tho Chero-
kee Reservation, in Arkansas, was passed,
The bill to amend the sections of the Revised
Statutes which prohibit the delivery of regis
tered letters and payment OF money orders to
lottery companies was passed. The amend
ment consists in striking out the word "fraudu-
lent so as to cover lotteries generally, and not
merely 'fratldulenG' lotteries.
A bill was passed providing for ascertainment
of the claims Of American citizens for spola-
tions by the French prior to the 3lst of July,
1901
The Dakota bill was then taken up, and Mr..
Harrison addressed the Senate. He said the
movement for the admission of the new State had
originated where such movements ought to orig
inate-with the people of the Territory. dis
cussion of its admission to the Union could, of
course assume the shape of party discussion
but that was shape unworthy so important
question To consider the application of
people for admission to the Union from the point
of view of its relation to the fortunes OF pollt
ical party was to, consider it from level far be-
low that of craftsmanship. He believed the feel
ing in the Territory almost unanimously in
favor of a division between the northern and
southern sections, and unanimous that the ad-
mission OF the whole Territory as single state
would not be acceptable. Judged by population
and producing capacity. Dakota was entitled to
admission. In 1870 the Improved lands and farms
in the Territory comprised 2,645 acres; 1851,
Il50 Alb acres; the number offarms in the Ter
ritory in 1870 was 1720 in 1880, 17439; the
value of those of 1880. was $22. 400 600, and the
total valuation of agricultural products for that
year was $15, 524 600. This was greater valu-
alton than could be claimed for several States.
AS to capacity to bear the expenses of State
government, the Territory was already defray-
ing nearly alt those expenses in territorial
form of government With regard 70 the ques-
tion of how much population should entltle
Territory to admission State, there had
been no rule established by Congress 1t had
been suggested that the population should be
required to be at least equal to the unit OF rep
resentaton in the lower house of Con
gress which at this time would
be little over 10000 people.
Few of the States, however, had had population
enough at the Tina of their admission to bring
them within that rule. No State, since the ad-
mission of Missouri in 1921, had had population
enough to enttle it to representative In Con
gress 1t was, therefore, a matter in the discre-
tion of Congress; but even on the basis of re-
quring such population, he believed that with
the naturally rapid increase of population in the
Territories, the portion proposed to be admitted
would. in a census taken at this time, show
enough population to entitle it to representa-
tive Taking up the question of the ratio or
voters to population, and the bearing of that ques
ton upon the admission of Dakota Mr. Harrison
stated that the vote Of Dakota in 1880 was
28,426, while in 1884 it was s6 900, an in
crease of 5I514 voters IN four years. OF
these Sc, 900 votes nearly two-thirds had been
cast in southern Dakota, the portion seeking ad-
mission to the Union. Estimating only four in
habitants to the voter, southern Dakota would
now have population of $50. 000. In
1880 it had population of 135, 1T, or
proportion of 4S2 inhabitants to the
voter. If it were objected that the proportion
| allowed was too large. he would leol at some
other States The relation of voters to inhab-
itants in Florida in 1880 was one voter FOR
every 5. % inhabitants in Georgia, one in 927;
Mississippi, one in nearly 10: Louisiana, one in
9.67; Alabama, one in SAG; Missouri ono in o. 40.
/ The average of those six States gave one in
| little moro than inhabitants to each voter
Mr. Harrison criticised the report of the minor
ity of the committee Territories pre-
sented by Mr. Vest, which strongly opposed the
admission of the Territory, and which declares
that if the statements of the advocates of admis-
sion true, the proposed State is already
elysium and its people enjoying every blessing
of religion, education and prosperity. Mr.. Har
rson thought this answer to the demand of
when
they claimed the right to elect their own Gov
ernor, and take part in making the laws by
which Congress provides for their government.
The Chair announced the appointment of
Messrs Hale Logan and Beck on the naval coz
ference committee.
After executive session, the Senate adjourned.