Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-06-07
ADMISSION OF washington
Senate Bill No. IL Was Amended
by the Committee.

Senate Bill No. IL Was Amended
by the Committee.
Senate bill No. IL was introduced ny
Dolph Dec. IL, 1887, for the admission
Of the state Of Washington, and referred
to the committee on territories. That
committee took until the 18th Of March
to bear argument pro and con upon the
PROVISIONS Of the bill and formulate their
report. and make such amendments ia
the original bill as they deemed wise and
proper under all the circumstances OF the
case, aud when they reported back the
bill they recommended its passage by
the Senate, only two Of the committ'
diesented, who made minority rep"r .
This minority report was signed by
8. NJ. Cuilum and Charles f. Mauder-
son. The majority report was presented
by Senator Stewart, and contained .
xruthful history Of tho question OF the
desire Of the people Of both Washington
and North Idaho for annexation OF the
two SECTIONS under one state government
One principal amendment to Senate bill
Nc. IL, made by the committee, was
the provision to permit the people OF tho
counties Of Idaho, Nez Perez, Shoshone
and Kootenai to vote upon the PROPOSE
ton Of their being annexed to Washing
ton and with her to become state. It
majority vote was in favor then the
annexation should take place. But il q
majority vote Of these four counties was
against the proposition to annex, then,
and 10 that case, Washington should BE-
admitted with only her original bound
aries Is at presant defined. The reason
for this amendment was I" settle the
question now disputed in the South part
Of the territory, which claimed that the
people Of the Northern counties had
greatly changed in sentiment upon the
question since the time IT John Haley
election, and that now iI., people we've
opposed to annexation. 1t seems to
have been the views Of tho majority Of
the committee that it was just ant
proper that the people Of these Northern
counties alone should have their choice
10 the matter, without interference Of the
pcople Of the other counties upon The
popular and correct principle that the
people, who are to be governed, should
have the choice Of the persons who
should govern them in a democratic
government. This amendment provides
that if majority Of the people Of these
four Northern counties Of Idaho shall
20 designate, BY their votes, that they
want to be annexed aud with Washing
ton 70 be state Of the Union. then The
boundaries of the state Of Washington
on admission, shall Include the fou,
Northern counties Of Idaho. But it q
majority Of the people Of these four
counties, shall designate by their votes,
that they do not want statehood with
Washington, then the boundaries Of the
state Of Washington. on admission. shall
not include these four counties. This
amendment will settle the question of
dispute about the wish Of the people Of
tho North. 1t is cmincutly fair and
just; and it the people Of the South do
not desire to hold the people Of the
North as vassAls. they certainly can do
no more just acts towards us than 10
favor this amendment, and If, as some
Of the Southern Idaho Journals say, We
have greatly changed in sentiment since
Hsiley's election, aud are now opposed
to annexation, certainly then the South is
in no danger Of losing us, for with that
change, We should be sure not to vote to
- to Washington. Where then can be
tho danger 10 making this amendment a
law, by congress, under which our poo
pic can act aod vote at the next election +?
1t the annexationists IRE beaten upon
the question at the polls, BY a majority
Of the bona 6de citizens Of these four
counties. they will be far more ready to
scquiescc quietly than the people of the
Southern counties have acquiesced in
the results Of the Sinsiser's election, or
Of that Of Hailey's election. It is not
the annexationists that have ever dc.
nurred to the voice of the people. They
are not, nor never have been, since the
history, a. charged BY the Southern
counties, the rebels and disorgauizers 10
The territory. They have never been
he violators Of several pledges given to
'ther counties, nor have they ever been
raitors to the people 10 the South upon
ny question, as the history Of the
crritory will fully show. But our
delegates and representatives from the