Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-18

of commission. This is a questionable
matter and should lie lett out.
NJ. Grigsby Of Minnehaha moved
that it be referred to the judiciary.
II. j. Campbell Of Yankton-I find a
number of states have the same provis-
ion in their constitutions (naming
them).
The motion to commit Was laid upon
the table.
&. C. Moody-The provision should
go to the legislative committee. l move
that it be SO referred. The section is
very proper.
The section was referred to the COM
mittee on legislative.
j. II. Gamble OF Yankton in report
ing petitions back from the legislative
committee on the subject of prohibi-
tion. said the committee had taken into
consideration the subject of prohibition,
and would report it all back without
recommendation. He stated that the
committee submitted the matter With
out recommendation.
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
The minority representation question
was taken up.
G. C. Moody-Asf far as | am concern
ed l have been unable to reconcile my
self to the new theory of minority rep
resentation in the new state. | cannot
see how minority representation can be
made to work in this new state. 1t
may be successfully operated in old
states, but fearnot here. 1t will work
the grossest injustice. 1t appeals to
passion, and not to cool Judgment. Ii
we We're settled as to immigration or
political parties it might be made to
work practically. The smaller counties
would he deprived of representation.
For instance, Day would have to lie at
tached to Brown county. and as Brown
o%utvotes Day. Day would not be repre-
sented. l favor the adoption of my
substitute of yesterday. in place Of
section two as reported. 1t gives q
minimum Of forty representatives, a
maximum Of eighty. and minimum OF
twenty senators.
Charles Sterling OF Sphinx j move
the adoption of the report ofthe minor
ity as Il substitute to section two. We
can do nothing better than give the
minority Il representation. The major
ity may rule - it shouldn't that
should not preclude the minority from
having representation. The plan has
been tried elsewhere and found unsat-
isfactory only 10y disappointed politi-
clans. 1T conlpel> precincts to pat ur
good men for the legislature. Any
thing but minority representation is
not a republican form Of government
&. l.. Wood OF Pennington-Minori
ty representation in Dakota at this
time would lead to disastrous results
the democrats | represent are in the
minority, and they don't want any
thing of this kind. The majority must
be held responsible for legislation, and
should be, but by minority representa-
ton it must share the odium of mis-
takes of the latter. The convention
should sit down upon it.
AS Jones of IIutchin>on-I oppose
the proposition from principle. The
majority should rule alone. We fight
in political campaigns for principle,
not men. We should hold to the old
plan. 1t has been said that minority
representation works well. Has not
the Old plan been found to work well
Minority representation is an expert
ment.
Robert Dollard of Bon IIomme-l
the minority have rights. The minor.
ity in Illinois send the ahlest and hest
men to the legislature. 1t may he said
that that is because those men are sent
from the democracy. That may he.
Laughter. Minority representation
has worked We'll, however tried.
j. II. Gamble Of Yankton--I have
talked with Illinoisan,, and they say
minority representation is :: humhug,
and would not carry by a popular vote.
An attempt to engratt this into our
constitution will make trouble. 1t is
a new operation in n state.
\ motion b. Mr.. Day of Edmunds
prevailed. to lay the substitute upon
the table. and minority representation
was settled for the time, at least.
INCREASING TIE LEGISLATrHE.
1t was moved to in~creasethe number
OF senators to forty.
G. G. Moody OF Lawrence Sid it was
a humbug to suppose t:Hit 4 large body
Of legislators We're less corluptihle or
could legislate to better advantage than
smaller body. The reported number
(fifty representative, and twenty-five
senatOrs) were enough for the state of
New York. he thought.
Eli johnson Of Hyde-The gentle
man from Lawrence Mr.. Moody
speaks the sentiment only of the peo-
pie Of a large town. 1t is not the senti-
m"nt Of those in counties not thickly
populated. The representatives get
only So Il day and we should have a
large representation.
W. w. Brookings of Minnehaha-The
upper branch of the legislature should
be kept small. ever if the lower branch
is large.
The amendment failed and The sec
ton as reported was adopted.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
A. b. Lucas OF Charles Mix offered
an amendment, that the assent Of two
thirds of the members OF both branches
Of the legislature shall be secured on
all appropriation bills.
r.. +. Pettigrew of Minaehaha-That
section would work great injury and is
dangerous.
On motion Of Robert Dollari OF Bon
Iiomme the section was tabled.
The report as finally adopted was
referred to the committee on arrange
ment and phraseology.
EXEMPTIONS.