Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-06-02
THE DAKOTA BILL.
Reports Of the House COMMITTEES On
the Dakota Admission Meas
ures.
The Majority Report Unfavorable to
the Adoption Of the Harrison
Bill.

Mr.. Springer, from the Committee on
Territories, has presented to the House the
adverse report Of that committee on the
Senate bill to provide for the organization
of the Territory of Lincoln. The report
says: 1t cannot be said that the people OF
Dakota, and especially Of Southern Da-
kota, are in favor Of admitting into the
Union the southern part Of that Territory.
A. such movement hasing n yiew the
formation Of two States to be carved out Of
the Territory Of Dakota organized in that
Territory, Congress has in no way author
lied or recognized it. The question Of
whether the present Territory Of Dakota Is
to be divided so as to lay the foundation
for two States to be admitted into the
Union hereafter is one that interests the
people Of the States quite as much as It
does the people Of Dakota. The people OF
the States have just as much right to have
that subject submitted TO them for their ap-
proval as have the people Of the Territory.
Chairman Hill, OF Ohio, submitted the
minority report, in which, while Disagree
ing with the reasoning of the majority, he
holds that Dakota should not be admitted
till the Senate bill passes, because all the
people of the Territory were not consulted
fairly on the question of division and the
formation Of the Constitution for the pro-
posed State. He believes it the duty OF
Congress to refer this question OF division
of the Territory to full vote of the people
thereof.
Another minority report is signed by
Messrs. Baker, Struble, Cooper, Herman
and Symes. They respectfully submit that
the people Of Dakota are in favor OF adj
hitting to the Union the southern part as a
State. Every fact justifies and every con-
| sideration demands and establishes beyond
| be Immediately admitted to the Union. We
| beg to submit that the majority have erred
in failing to suggest any proposition by way
| of amendment to the pending Senate bill,
by which the people Of Dakota may be ac-
| corded their right, under the Federal Con-
| stitution, to admission. 1t has been sug-
| gested that the Senate bill might, by proper
| amendment, be submitted to new vote OF
| the citizens of Dakota--a condition which,
| though the subscribers conceive it to be
unjust, they might, neverless, accede to by
way of compromise; and in order to meet
| objections made by the honorable members
| of the committee, We beg leave to submit
the following amendments, II the House
shall be disposed to adopt or consider the
same, to the end that the fullest justice may
be accorded to the people Of that State.
| These amendments, it will be observed,
slightly change the line Of division from the
| forty sixth parallel of north latitude to the
| seventh standard parallel Of north latitude,
and propose the name of North Dakota in
stead of Lincoln to the proposed new terri
tory not embraced within the bounds Of the
new State. These suggestions, il adopted,
would otherwise, in effect, convert the Sem
ate bill into an enabling act pure and SIM
pie; provided, however. that before the act
shall take effect and be in force, so far rs it
is an act admitting the State Of Dakota into
the union of States, separate propositions
| thereof shall be again submitted to a vote
| of the qualified electors of the State in the
manner provided for in the schedule Of said
| constitution, which election shall be held
on the first Tuesday in September, 1886. II
a majority of ballots cast at said election
shall be in favor Of the adoption Of con-
stitution, then this act shall take effect and
the State shall be deemed admitted on the
LIST of October, 1886. II majority OF the
ballots cast at an election shall be- against
the adoption of constitution, then this act
shall cease to have further effect, and the
State shall not thereby be admitted into the
Union, and the effect of the election ON the
adoption or rejection of the separate propo-
stions shall be the same as though no pre-
vious election had been had thereon; but
this shall not affect the former seat Of gov
ernment of the State. And, provided
further, that on the first Tuesday Of Sep
tember, 1886, there shall he an election held
throughout the present Territory OF Dakota,
whereat there shall be submitted to the
qualified voters Of the Territory the ques-
ton whether they favor q division Of the
Territory upon the seventh standard parallel
Of north latitude.