Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-17
CONGRESSIONAL.


sented the credentials of John II. Mitch.
ell, the newly elected United States SEN
ator from Oregon, which we're read. Mr..
Mitchell was then sworn in.
The chair laid before the senate a let
ter from the secretary of the treasury
transmitting the report of the superin-
tendent Of the coast and geodetic sur.
yey.
Mr.. Hoar, from the committee on priv
ileges n elections, reported favorable
to fixing q day for a meeting of the elect
ors for president and vice president and
to provide for and regulate the
counting of q vote for president
and vice president and a decision
of the questions arising tberefrom
MIR. Hoar said he would call up the
bill tor action Immediately after the dis,
posal OF the presidential succession bill
and the bill fixing the salary of United
States district judges. The bill went
to the calendar.
The chair laid before the senate the
resolution of Mr.. Butler calling for a
committee to inquire as to the alleged
organization of the territory of Dakota
into a state and the alleged election of
United States senators.
Mr.. Harrison did not think a COM
mittee necessary for that purpose. The
efforts of Dakota, he said, were perfect
ly respectful to the United States; it's
new constitution fully recognized the
authority of the United States
and stayed the hand of the
new state organization until the new
constitution should be approved by son.
gress. For six years the people of Da-
kofa had been trying to secure action by
congress looking to their admission; the
senate had passed the bill for their re-.
lief, hut the bill had not been passed by
the other house.
Mr.. Butler inquired by what authority
United States senators had been
elected il Dakota.
Mr.. Harrison replied that he could
show that senators had hitherto been
elected under precisely similar ciroum.
stances and Dakota had the right to 90
at least as far as Tennessee, California
and Michigan.
Mr.. Butler remarked that if the pro.
ceedings 10 Dakota were reguler and
proper, no y would more quickly rec.
ogEize the fact than himself. He had
offered the resolution for tho purpose OF
ascertainlng facts; he thought the sena-
tor FROM Indiana had worked himself
into a passion
MIR. Harrison replied that he was not
in a passion. The senator, said he, has
never been in q passion or he would be
able to discriminate (%laughter). Rarri-
son briefly reviewed the history of the
question of admission of territories
and said that the democrats at any rate
ought not to question the propriety OF
the action of Dakota.
Mr.. Butler said that no question of
politics was involved.
-
Mr.. Harrison said he war glad that
Mr.. Butler took so statesmanlike q view
of the subject.
Mr.. Butler inquired whether Mr.. Har-
rison would sustain action by the terri
tory of Utah similar to the recent action
of Dakota.
Mr.. Harrison replied that he would,
but reserved for congress the power to
approve or disapprove their constitu-
tional power, as was recognized and
admitted by Dakota.
McMilianssaid Minnesota had been
admitted to the union without any en-.
abling act and that democratic senators
had been elected and were ready to take
their seats Immediately on the passing of
the bill for admission.
After further debate the matter went
over until tomorrow and the presiden-
tial succession bill was taken up.
HOUSE.
In the house the subject of the rules
was up for discussion, Mr..
Morrison, of Illinois, stating that
he would try and close the general de-
bate at 4 o'clock to-day.