Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-25
PROPOSED. NEW STATES.
Partisanship Barring the Door Against
Dakota.

A PROPOSITION TO COMPROMISE BY PASSING
ENABLING ACTS FOR WASHINGTON AND
MONTANA TERRITORIES AS WELL. AS DAKOTA
The bill for the division of Dakota Territory
and the admission OF the southern portion a
state into the Union, now before the Senate,
has become party question aud will pass that
body by the republican vote, provided it is
pressed in its present form. The democrats
count upon beating the bill in the House. and
they will do it, too If the question Of the admis-
sion of Dakota alone be forced upon them. The
democrats claim that they do not base their
opposition upon denial Of the right of Dakota
to statehood. They are willing to admit that in
population, wealth, ETC., the territory is entitled
to become a state but they assert that the peo-
sary legal preliminaries. 1t is not improbable
that q compromise will be proposed III the SEN
ate looking to the admission OF Montana, which
is a democratic territory, along with Dakota.
Senator Voorhees, thinks it would be a
good plan to provide for the admission of
Dakota, Montana and Washington Territories.
Dakota is republican, Montana democratic, and
Washington is doubtful, politically. Senator
Voorhees, thinks it would be fair all round to
admit all three, and then the party which can
succeed in carrying Washington, would get
the advantage OF that movement. Such an ar
rangement would nccessltate some delay in
investing Dakota with statehood. The plan
would be to pass enabling acts for all three ter
ritories, with the view OF investing them with
statehood at the next session of Congress. It is
more than probable that the republicans will
ing tie Dakota bill. Should they do this the
House will most probably content itself with
The democrats are not inclined to look compla-
Gently upon the creation of three new electoral
votes for the republican ticket in 1888.
While the position is taken by some Con-
gressmen that the proper method of procedure
is to pass enabling acts for all three territories
and admit them states, after all the prelimi-
narieS under these acts shall have been COM
piled with, others, representing both political
delay as regards Dakota and Montana. form
Of government, ratified by the people of south
Dakota was submitted to Congress early in the
session, and upon it the territory now asks ad-
mission. About two years ago Montana adopted
u constitution, but 1t was not then presented to
Congress. Recently this constitution with the
necessary papers, ect., was regularly forwarded
to Washington, and Senator Voorhees, has in
PRODUCED a bill fol the admission OF the state of
Montana in accordance with that constitution.
Senator Harrison, chairman OF the Senate
committee on territories, says that the Montana
constitution is all that is required. and that
there need be no more delay in granting admis-
sion TO that tertiary than in the case OF Dakota
II Is probable that SO TAR as the Senate is con-
cerned, an arrangement may be made for the
prompt admission OF Dakota and Montana. in
which event no political advantage will accrue
to either party. A bill to authorize the people
handle strip Of Idaho is to be annexed, to adopt
constitution and prepare for admission TO the
| simply an enabling act, authorizing the people
10 form for themselves q state government with
the maine OF the State OF Washington.
The Senate committee on territories will very
probably consider the Montana bill at its mex
meeting. While the creation of a new state is
not admitted TO be a political question, politics
generally exert great influence in the matter,
and II Montana can come In as offset to Dakota
the latter may become q state at this session Of
Congress.
THE DAKOTA QUESTION BEFORE THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE.
The House committee on territories had the
Dakota question before them at their meeting
| this morning. Hon. L. G. johnson continued
his argument In favor of the admission of the
whole territory, and Col w. Thompson made
| an argument in the same line. Mr.. THOMPSON
Thought the whole territory should be aainit-
ted as one state, or, II division must be made,
| from east to west, as is the present scheme.
Most Of the arguments that have thus Tar been
made before the committee have been In favor
ofthe admission Of the territory as q whole.