The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-03-02
spR,ncER,s ADHESION BILL.
A Proposal to Admit Four Territories to State.
hood.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-By . strict party
vote the House committee On Territories to-
day agreed to report favorably Chairman
Spriuger's "Omnibus BllP' to enable the
people of Dakota, Montana, Wsshington
Territory and New Mexico to form constitn.
tions and State governments, and be admit
ted into the Union on an equal footing with
the original States. The Republicans will
present . minority report in opposition.
The bill authorizes the residents Of these
Territories to elect delegates to = convention
proportionate in number with the population
of the counties, the spportionment Of dele.
gates to he made by the Governor, Chief
Justice and U. s. Attorney of each Territory,
and the election to be held on the Tuesday
after the first Monday in next August. The
number Of delegates TO each conventionsis
fixed At Is, except In the case Of Dakota,
where the number is $50. They are to meet
At the seat of government Of each Territory
on the second Tuesday in September next,
adopt the Constitution of the United States
and form constitutions and State govern
ments, expressly d%isclaiming in favor Of the
United States all title to the u~napprop1iated
public lands and the Indian lands lying
within the Territories. They are alsdye-
quired to assume the Territorial debts, ind
provide and maintain q public school sys-
TEN. 8 b
The constitutions are to be submitted to >
vote of the people on the Tuesday after the
first Monday in November next, and If =
majority are in favor Of 1t the result shall be
certified to the President of the United
States. Until the next general census, the new
states, with the exception Of Dakota, are to
be allowed one Representative each in the
House Of Representatives; Dakota to. be
allowed two Representatives. These Repre-
sentatives are to be elected on the same day
with the Governor and other State officers.
Sections IL and SO of land in each township
or an %equivanent, are granted to each new
State for school purposes. Fifty entire sec
tions are granted for the erection of public
buildings. Ninety entire sections are appor-
toned for agricultural colleges, and five per
cent. Of the proceeds of the 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 Of public lands
are also proposed to be made specifically for
the benefit of schools, mines, charitable and
educational institutions and water works,
and for irrigation. Appropriations of $4,000
are provided for Montana, Washington and
New Mexico, and $35, 900 for Dakota, to
defray the expenses Of the conventions.
After the acceptance of the constitutions, the
Legislatures are to meet and elect two Sen.
ators from each State, and when each State
is admitted into the Union by special act of
Congress. the Senators aud Representatives
are to be admitted to seats in Congress and
the State Governments become operative.
The New Mexican convention is also to con.
slider the question of q change in the name of
New Mexico to Montezuma, and the Wash
ington convention is to submit to the people
q proposition to name the new State Ia.
coma.