Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-03-01
TIE CUES rlON OF ADMISSION.
A Strict Party Vote Divides the House
Committee on Territories,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-By a strict
party vote the house committee on terri.
tories to-day agreed to report iavorably
Chairman Sprinsers Omnibus bilr' to
enable the people Of Dakota, Montana,
Washington territory and New Mcxico to
form constitutions AID state governments.
aud be admitted to the Union on equal
footing with the original states. The re.
publicans will present a minority report
in opposition.
The bill authorizes the residents of
these territories to elect delegates to a
convention. proporlionate in number with
the population Of the counties, appor
tiopment Of the delegates to be made by
the governor, chief justice aud U. S. at
torney of each territory, and an election
to be held on Tuesday after the first
Monday next August. The number oi
delegates to each convention is fixed a,
seventy five, except in the case of Dakota,
where the number is $50. They are to
meet ut the seat OF government Of each
territory, on the second Tuesday in Sep
TENDER next, adopt the cons tuition Of the
United States and form constitution
and state governments, expressly disc|aim
ing in favor II the United States all title
to unarpropria,ed public lands and Indian
lands lying within the territories. They
are also required to assume territorial
debts, and provide aud maintain u pub
lie school system.
The constitutions are to be submitted
to vote OF the people, on Tuesday, after
the first Monday in November next, and
i. a majority are in favor. the results shall
be certified to the president OF the United
States.
Until the next general census the new
states, with the exception OF Dakota, ale
to be allowed one representative each in
the house of representatives,: Dakota is
to be allowed two representatives. The
representatives are to be elected on til,
same day with the governor aud Other
state officers.
Sectors l6 and So of land 10 each
township, or an equivalent, are granted
to each new state Tor school PURPOSES
Fifty entire sections are granted for the
erection Of public buildings. Ninety see
tions are appor,ioDed for agricultural col
leges, and five per cent. of the proceed.
of sales of public lands in the new states
is to be paid into the fund for the support
OF their common schools. Other large
grants ofpublic lands are also propo scd Ia
be made specifically for the benefit Of
schools. mines, charitable aud educational
institutions, and watcrw, rks for irrigation.
An appropriation of $4,000 is pro
vided for Montana, Washington and New
Mexico, ana $4,000 for Dakota, to dc
fray the expenses Of the convention.
Alter acceptance ct the constitutions,
the legislatures are to meet and elect two
senators from each state, and when each
state is admitted into he Union by spec.
ial act of congress, the senators and rep
resentatives are to be admitted to seats
in congress, and the state governments
become operative.
The New Mexican convention is also
to consider he question OF a change in the
name Of New Mexico to Montezuma, and
the Washington convention is to submit
to the people proposition to name the
the new state Tacoma. .