Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-25
the CONSTITUTION.

THE CONSTITUTION.
Continuation OF the Work at sioux
Falls-The End OF the Convention
Approaching.
Sioux Falls sept. 23-Tbe first subject
taken up in the constitutional conven-
ton this morning was that of taxation.
That portion Of the report OF the COM
mittee on revenue and finances, relating
to the method of assessment which had
been referred back to the committee,
was again submitted in modified form.
The recommendation of the committee
was adopted. 1t provides for uniform
system of assessment for all property,
both Of individuals and corporations,
and that the assessment Of all property
shall be, ''as hear as may be-" by the
same method. 1t was the distinct aim
Of the convention to draft clause which
would prohibit the taxation of railroad
companies upon tLeir gross earnings,
but IT is understood that the assessment
OF railroad property may, under the
clause adopted, be made upon the state
board plan. The gross earnings system
Is tue one now in use IN the territory,
and II seems too unsatisfactory to tue
people.
An article was adopted giving the
Legislature power to pass general
banking law modelled after the United
States law on that subject.
There WAS general debate to-day up
on the matter Of exemption. One side
contended that Dakota needed an en-
phatic expression at the present time to
the effect that the amount of property
exempted should be lowered. The con-
vention, however, decided to leave the
matter entirely to the discretion of the
Legislature.
The question of the northern bound
aly line of the state was again brought
before the convention to-day and proved
very troublesome. On Monday the
seventh standard parallel was agreed up
on tor the boundary east of the Mis-
souri, river. That was the first time that
the line had ever been decided upon
The forty-slxth parallel has always been
accepted heretofore as the dividing line
| between south and north Dakota in
political conventions, in the legis-
iature and in Dllis considered
| by congress, but the seventh
| standard, which is only a few miles from
its rival, has had numerous friends who
have presented the strong objection that
the forty sixth parallel divides farms
| When the question was taken up agair
this morning it was urged that the
seventh standard was q very faulty line
which had been carelessly surveyed tha
the law under which the convention
existed provided for the forty sixth
parallel; that said parallel could be dis
covered at any time, and that congress
in all probability would OBJECT
to the seventh standard as it had in the
past. A vote was taken and the conven
tiun decided to retain the seventh stand
ard.
The question came up in another form
this afternoon and was again discussed
in manner which indicated that the
convention considered it one of great
importance. Another roll-cali resulted
in 50 votes for the forty sixth and l8 fol-
the seventh standard, demonstrating g
great change of mind on the part of the
delegates.
A resolution provided that when the
convention shall complete its present
work it adjourned to the same date in
April next, SO that should congress and
4
with some changes as to details, the con.
may arise. was adopted.
delegates. led by MIR. McCallum, tc
the motto selected, under God the peo.
pie rule" but it failed by vote of IS
10 10.
| f1 inn -
i'll the preamble an argument setting
der ordinance of 1877, providing for the
admission of new states from northwest
territory when the population should
reach 10000 and under the treaty will
France ceding Louisiana to the United
States. which stipulated that the
people of the territory ceded should
be placed on an equal footing
with the citizens of the states already
admitted, and, moreover, by reason oi
laws of congress extending the terms
of the ordinances of 1877 to the area in
cluded in the Louisiana purchase.
The convention did not mean to dis
aver the above claims, but simply be.
iieved that their presentation should be
left for the addresses which will be
| uaOe W tue pTeSlueuU 8uu congress-.
A resolution providing for the print.
ing of 100000 copies of the constitution
in English and 10000 each in the Ger
man and Scandinavian languages was
adopted.
This evening the report OF the com
mittee on education relating to the in
vestment of the school fund, occupied
the attention of the convention.
The plan was finally adopted. I!
fixes the interest on school moneys at
six per cent, and provides for apportion
ing the fund among the several coun.
ties, the latter to become responsible fol
the principal and interest, and to invest
money in farm mortgages and school
state and United States bonds. Tht
school bonds are to be sold on the fol
lowing terms: One-fourth IN cash, one
fourth to be paid in five years, one
fourth in ten years, and one-fourth il
fifteen years. Provision is made for thu
payment of the principal at any time i
one years additional interest is paid il
advance.
The convention has now considered
nearly all the reports, and it is yer.