Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-24
The Admission Bill.

Delegate Clifford has introduced a
bill for the admission of Dakota into
the union, of which the following is a
synopsis:
The preamble sets forth the fact that
the constitutional convention of Septem-
Der last formed constitution in state
government, and that the people of the
territory ask admission OF Jnat part, in
cludlng in the boundaries described,
1t provides tor the jurisdiction over
rivers which form part Of the common
boundary between the state of Dakota
and other states surrounding it, that the
Missouri river shall be common high
way forever, free to the inhabitants OF
DAKOTA as we'll as the other states; that
until the next census is taken, the state
OF Dakota Will be entitled to two repre-
sentatlves Ill congress. Sections to 5
appropriates 100000 for the purpose of
paying all expens es of the constitutions
al commission. elections held therefor,
to be paid to the treasurer of the new
state upon the requisition of
the legislature setting forth the articles
and particulars. Section 6 grants to the
state sections l6 and IS in every town
ship for the support of the common
schools; where these sections have been
disposed of other lands equivalent there
to are granted. Section z grants 10000
entire sections of unappropriated public
lands to be selected by the Legislature
with the approval of the president, for
the purpose of erecting public buildings
at the capital OF the state tae lands
selected to be within the boundaries of
the state, ana chosen from lands either
surveyed or unsurveyed. Section 81
grants seVenty-two sections of public
lands for the maintenance of state
university; ninety sections Tor the en-
doWment of an agricultural college, and
hlty sections for the building and main
tenance of penitentlary. Section 8
grants per cent of all sales of the pub
llc lands within the state from the time
OF the reorganization of the territory,
and approprlates a sufficient sum to pay
all amounts found due by the secretary
OF the interior. Section II grants all
salt springs within the state with those
sections of land adjoining for the state
to be selected within two years after ad-
mission. Section II exempts ali mineral
lands from the operations of this act
exceps as to school lands. Section I3
grants zoo, 700 acres of the public lands
to the state tor internal improvements.
and provides that the state of Dakota
shall constitute one judicial district, to
be called the district of Dakota, and that
district court shall be held at Yank-
ton, salary of the Judge to he $4,000 a
year. 1t provides also for clerk and
other officers who shall keep their office
at Iapkton. Section Is divides the
public Indebtedness of the former terri
tory as follows: All the public lnde0t-
edness incurred for the purpose of pub
lie institutions within the limits of the
state of Dakota shall be assumed and
paid by the said state, and the state
shall make immediate provision for the
payment Of the same. and all the remain
ing funded Indebtedness of the former
territory shall remain debt to the
territory which shall be organized
out of the remaining portion of the
former territory, one-half the funds re-
naming in the treasury of the territory
of Dakota. and of all receipts from taxes
imposed by former legislatures thereof
shall be paid by the treasurer Of said ter
ritory to the treasurer of the state of
Dakota. ALI archives and records of the
former territory of Dakota, now in the
custody OF the secretary and governor of
said territory and the territorial library
shall be turned over by that officer to
the governor or secretary of said state
of Dakota. Land granted for educa-
tional purposes shall be sold at public
sale at not less than $500 per acre, the
proceeds to constitute the permanent
school fund, only the interest of which
shall be expended in the support Of the
common schools. 1t provides for
the organization of the territory
of north Dakota out of the remaining
portion of the territory not admitted
into the union, and all the federal offii-
GERS shall continue to hold their offices !;
fixes the city of Bismarck as the place
for holding sessions of the legislative
assembly of north Dakota. Section 25
gives the legislature of the new state
the power to transfer actions, cases and
proceedings pending in the supreme
and district courts of the territory at
the time of the admission of the state,
not included in the preceding sections,
to such courts as shall be established
under the constitution. Section 26 de-
clares that the state of Dakota shan be
liable for all Indebtedness for the public
buildings within the southern portion of
the present territory, and the new terri
tory to be organized shall be liable for
similar Indebtedness incurred for public
buildings in the northern portion.