The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-12-19
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Caucus of House Democrats to Discnss the
Admission of Territories With
Some Purpose.

WASHINGTON. December 13.-The house
democratic caucus to -night,after a session
lasting over three hours, adopted the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved, That in the judgment of this
caucus provisions should be made by
which Dakota may be admitted into the
union as one state, or two states, as the
people Of the two proposed states may
hereafter determine; also, that the nee
essary legislation ought to be provided for
the early admission into the union of the
territories Of Washington, Montana and
New Mexico; that these measures should
all be embodied in one bill, either by the
amendment of the pending bill or other
wise, as to the details, the committee on
territories shall determine in what order
| the house shall consider these measures,
and that the bill be considered in the
house at an early day as practlcable
Utah, although lot mentioned in the
resolution, it was agreed should be ad-
mitted into the union, but by a separate
bill. Sixty members we're in attendance
at the caucus, but it was evident they
had come nearer an understanding since
the previous night. Cox opened the pro-
ceedings with long speech, in conclud-
ing which he said he was opposed to
Utah coming in on the omnibus bill, but
was willing to defer to the wish of the
caucus and accept the measure, provided
it was understood Dakota should have
the privilege Of division.
Dockery, Missouri; Wheeler, Alabama;
Blount, Georgia; Mansur, Missouri; Rice
and Mcdonald, Minnesota; Voorhees,,
Washington territory, and others took
the same ground. Oates and Herbert,
Alabama, and McMillen, Tennessee, stout
| ly opposed the division of Dakota. Nc
Millen declared it would be political sui
eide for the democratic party to admit all
these new states The democratic party
should go slow in this matter. These
proposed states were republican, and
would continue to be republican, not
WIU115OGL1NA1AlSS UhO CSuAOA O1AO OOhAOO1hoAS
house might take looking to their admis-
sion.
The Dakota question was then lost
sight of temporarily in the discussion
over the question whether Utah should
be included in the omnibus bill. Dele
gate Caine, Utah, made an earnest ap-
peal for the inclusion of Utah in the bill
He said polygamy was now no longer
practiced to any extent, and the demo
cratic party should not undertake to de-
ny Utah admission solely because of the
religious belief of some of her citizens.
Breckenridge, Kentucky, seconded the
appeal, saying Utah would probably be
the only democratic state in the lot and
ought not to be omitted. After further
discussion the committee on territories
was requested by vote showing a small
majority in favor of the proposition to
prepare and present to the house a sepa-
rate bill for the admission of Utah. Car
Isle and Judge Holman then addressed
the house in favor of the omnibus bill, in
Guiding the territories having a ratio of
population emitting them to one member
of congress. Cox closed the debate in a
speech in which he asked the members to
accept the proposition of Judge Holman,
leaving the Dakota question to the people
Of that territory, and providing for the
admission Of the other territories named.
The Holman resolution, amended by al
suggestion from Speaker Carlisle, was
then adopted, and the caucus adjourned.
DEATH OF cOLOROW.