The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-12-20
THE OMNIBUS Bill.
Democrats Falling Down Over Zach Other in
Their Efforts TO Admit Dakota.

Democrats Falling Down Over Zach Other in
Their Efforts to Admit Dakota.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-In accord
ance with the expressed intention of
the democratic caucus of last Thurs
day evening to support the omnibus
bill, and providing for an enabling act
for the admission of the. territories of
Dakoto. Montana, Washington and
New Mexico. and of giving to the peo-
pie of Dakota the privilege of determ
lining whether that territory shall be as
one or two states, Representative
Springer, chairman of tbs committee
on territories has been engaged in
formulating the necessary amend
ments to the bill reported last session
to make its provisions conform to
the proposed changes to meet the
change in time of holding elections for
delegates TO the constitutional conven-
tiOn. Mr.. Springer has prepared an
amendment providing that the cleo
tions in the four territories shall be
held on the first Tuesday after the
third Monday in May, 1889, and that
the delegates so elected shall meet in
convention on the following fourth of
July and prepare constitutions to be
submitted to the people for ratification
or rejection on the first Tuesday alter
the first Monday in November
following, to determine whether
or not the territory of Dakota
shall be admitted as whole or DIVIDED.
The proposed amendment to the omni-
bus bill provides that at the election
for delegates to the constitutional
convention in May each qualified cleo
tor may have written or printed on his
ballot the words for division" or
against division" If a majority of
the votes cast in that part of the terri
tory south of the seventh standard
parallel produced due west to the
shall be ''for DIVISION" the dele
gates elected shall assemble at Sioux
Falls. If a majority of votes cast
north of the seventh parallel shall be
for division the delegates so elected
who may reside north of said parallel
shall assemble in convention at Bis
mark. Each convention shall then
form constitution for a state, which
constitution shall be submitted to the
people for ratification or rejection.
Each state shall be entitled to one
preparation to meet the expenses OF
holding the two conventions is in
creased so as TO provide for each con
vention the sum of So, 600
It is provided that should the
people reject the respective conStitu
tions, the territorial government OF
Dakota shall continue in it's existence
the same as if this act had not beer
passed, or if the constitution for either
north or south Dakota should be re
jected that the part of the territory re
jecting shall continue under the terri
torial government of Dakota. In case
the people vote for a division, provision
is made for the appointment of COM
missioner by the two conventions to re
adjust and agree on the amount of thu
territorial debt to be assumed by eact
of the proposed states. Mr.. Springel
will call meeting of his committed
some time next week for the purpose
of submitting the proposed amendment
to them for consideration. He hopes
to be able to report the amendment t.
the bill.
In the house at an early day he vii
also ask the committee to consider thu
propfiety of proposing an additional
section to the omnibus bill providing
of the United States shall haY'
a legally ascertained population
equal to the number necessary t.
entitle it to a representative
in congress such territory shall be au
thoriZed through its legislature to cal
constitutional convention to conSis
of not less than seventy-five member
who shall assemble at the seat of gov
eminent of the territory, and form
constitution for submission to the pee
, pie, and if majority of the people yot
, for it it is to be transmitted to tn
!, president and by him laid before cor
! gress, and if the constitution so adopte
: be republican in form and in accord
ance with the constitution and laws {
the United States the territory shall b
admitted into the union whenever cor
I, gress shall pass an act therefor.