Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-02-03
THE BuTlER BILL.

tudu any roVl6lOQ OF the Gaf1m law Cl8G
can be made.
THE BUTlER BILL.
The Butler bill in the senate for the
admission of Dakota as one state is very
much like the Springer bill in the house,
except that the more Objectionable fea-
lures are absent. The Aberdeen COM
mittee will serve their constituents more
faithfully if they will say "good day" to
Springer and assist the Butler measure.
Indeed this measure bears the earmarks
of few members of the one state COM
mittee-particularly those of Colonel
Mcbride of Mitchell and Purcell of
Wahpeton.
The Butler bill provides for the hold
ing of an election on the Tuesday after
the first Monday in June, 1883, for the
purpose of electing delegates to attend
a constitutional convention to be held at
the seat of government on the third
Tuesday of July, 1883. The Butler bill
provides for the election of $50 delegates,
while the Springer bill provides for but
rs. The state constitution framed by
the constitutional convention is to be
submitted to the people for their ratifca-
tion or rejection at the regular November
election. It is also provided that the
constitutional convention may by ordi-
nance provide for the election of full
state government, including members of
the legislature and representatives in
congress, but these officers shall remain
in allegiance until the constitution framed
by said convention shall have been ap-
proved by congress.
Here is one very objectionabl feature.
The final admission of the state, after
complying with the provisions of the en-
abling act, should be effected by presi-
dental proclamation. Aside from this
the Butler bill appears to be unobjection-
able to those desiring statehood, except
that no good reason exists-other than
partisan-why statehood should not be
effected in time to allow the people of
Dakota to vote for president of the United
States next fall.
Sections three and twenty-five of the
Butler bill are as follows:
Sec. 8. That the said state of Dakota
shall have concurrent jurisdiction of the
bordering on the said state of Dakota, so
far as the said rivers shall form common
boundary to the said state, and any other
state or states or territory or territories
now or hereafter to be formed, said rivers
to be common to both; and that the said
river Missouri shall be common highway
and forever free, as we'll to the inhabitants
Of said state as all other citizens of the
United States, without any tax, duty, inn
post or toll imposed by said state of Dakota
therefor.
Sec. %. That the state of Dakota shall
constitute two judicial districts, which
shall be called the first and second district
shall be held at the capital of said state
for the time being. The judges Of said dis
trict courts shall receive yearly salary of
5000, payable in four equal installments,
on the first day Of January, April, July
and October Of each year, and each shall
reside in his district. There shall be ap-
pointed clerks of said courts, who shall
keep their offices at the places herein
named, where said courts are to be held.
There shall be appointed for said districts
two district judges. two United States at
torneys and two United States marshals.
That the first district shall consist of that
part of the state of Dakota herein named
as the second congressional district, and
the district court shall be held in the city
of Mitchell, Dawson county. The sec.
ond district shall consist of that part of the
state of Dakota herein described as the
first congressional district, and the district
court shall be held in the city of Fargo,
Cass county. The regular terms OF said
courts shall be held at the places aforesaid
on the first Monday in April and the first
Monday in November in each year. For
judicial purposes the two districts of Da-
kota shall be attached to the eighth judicial
circuit, and only one grand jury and one
petit jury shall be summoned in both of
said courts.
The above sections do not appear in the
Springer bill.
The Butler bill is silent on the abolish
ing of counties of less than 5000 popula-
ton. That seems to be hobby of Mr..
Springer. OF all the bills thus far in
troduced or proposed affecting Dakota
the Springer bill is the only one contain
ing such foolish provision.