The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-12-19
THE OMNIBUS BILL.
Springer's Amendment OutIined---0uestion
of Division to be Referred to the
People of Dakota.


of Division to be Referred to the
People of Dakota.
WASHINGTON, December 15.-In accord
ance with the expressed intention OF the
democratic caucus of last Thursday night
to support the omnibus bill, providing for
an enabling act for the admission of Jhe
territories of Dakota, Montana, Washing
ton and New Mexico, and giving the peo-
pie of Dakota the privilege of determin-
ing whether that territory be admitted
as one or two states, Representative
Springer, chairman of the committee on
territories, has been engaged IN formu-
lating the necessary amendments to the
bill reported last session to make it's pro
visions conform to the proposed changes,
with some change in the time of holding
the election for delegates to the constitu-
tional convention. Springer has prepared
an amendment providing that elections in
the four territories shall be held on the
first Tuesday after the third Monday in
May, 1889; that the delegates SO elected
shall meet in convention on the following
FOURTH OF JULY
and prepare constitution to be submit
ted to the people for ratification or reiec-
tion on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in November following, to deter
mine whether or not the territory of Da-
kota shall be admitted as whole or di-
vided. The proposed amendment to the
omnibus bill provides that at the election
for delegates to the constitutional con-
yention in May every qualified elector
may have written or printed on his ballot
the words, 'For division" or, against
division" If majority of the votes cast
in that part Of the territory south Of the
seventh standard parallel, due west to the
western boundary of the territory, shall
be
''FOR DIVISION,
the delegates elected shall assemble at
Sioux Falls. If the majority cast north
of the seventh parallel shall be fer di-
vision, then the delegates so elected who
reside north of said parallel shall assem-
bic at Bismarck. Each convention shall
then form a constitution for it's state,
which constitution shall be submitted to
the people for ratification or rejection
Each state shall be entitled to one repre-
sentative IN congress. The appropriation
to meet the expenses of holding two con-
ventions is increased SO as to provide for
each convention the sum of $4,000. It is
provided that should the people
REJECT THE RESPECTIVE CONSTITUTIONS
the territorial government of Dakota
shall continue in existence the same as if
this act had net been passed; or if the
for either north or south Da-
kota should be rejected, then the part OF
the territory SO rejecting shall continue
under the territorial government of d.
kota. In case the people vote for division
provision is made for the appointment of
a commission by the two conventions to
re adjust and agree upon the amount Of
the territorial debt to be assumed by each
Of the proposed states.
Springer will call meeting of the com
mittee some time next week for the pur-
pose of submitting the proposed amend
ments to them for consideration. He pro-
poses to report the amendments to the
DILL to the house at an early day. He will
also ask the committee to consider the
of proposing an additional sec
ton to the omnibus bill providing that
whenever an organized territory of the
United States shall have legally ascer
aimed population equal to the number
to entitle it to one representa-
i've in congress, such territory through
he legislature to call a constitutional
to consist of not less than sew
,nty-five members, who shall assemble at
he seat of government Of the territory
md form a constitution for submission to
he people, If the majority of the people
7ote for it, it is to be transmitted to the
and by him laid before congress
md if the constitution so adopted be re-
publican in form and in accordance with
he constitution and laws of the United
states the territory shall be admitted into
he union whenever congress shall pass
II act therefor.