, 1889-08-08
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Report Of the Committee on Federal
Relations.

The convention met at Q L. NJ, Reed
in the chair and lifty-three members
present.
Mr.. Comegys called for the report of
the committee on federal relations, which
was read, as follows:
Section blank or article blank. The
consent of the state of Washington is here
by given to the exercise by the congress
of the United States,of exclusive legis.
lalion in all cases whatsoever over such
tracts or parcels of land as arc now held
by the government of the United States
for the purpose of erecting and main
tanning thereon forts, magazines, arsen-
ais, dockyaIds, lighthouses and other
needful buildings in accordance with the
provisions of the 18th clause of the
Bird section of the first article of the con.
stitution of the United States. Pro.
vided, that sufficient description
by metes aud bounds and an
accurate plat or map of each
such tract or parcel of land be
filed in the proper office of record in the
county In which the same is situated
together with copies of the orders, deeds,
patents or other evidence in writing of
the title of the United States; and pro-
vided that all civil processes issued from
the courts of this state, and such crimi-
nal processes a. may issue under the
authority of this state against any per-
son charged with crime in cases arising
outside of said reservations may I've
seryed and executed thereon in the same
m6le and manner and by the same
officers as If the consent herein given had
not been made,
AaESDMESTs OFFERED.
Mr.. Buchanan thought it necessary to
take action in order that the government
might go ahead and make certain I'M
pruvements on the lands involved.
MIR. Gritiitts moved to add 80 long
as the same shall be 80 held and reserved
by the government of the United States"
after the words, constitution of the
United States
MIR. Comegys thought this unneces-
sary, but still he would not object TO IL.
Mr.. Gritlitts said it would make sure
that If ever the government abandoned
any of these tracts of loud the title
would be in the state without question.
lie also suggested that the Sd section
had been changed in the previous de-
bate on this subject to the StlI section of
the United States constitution. The
amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Turner moved to amend by strik-
ing out the words, "and other needful
buildings" and to further so amend as
to include lands now or hereafter to be
occupied by the United States govern
ment.
Mr.. Comegys said this would defeat
the object of the article, because the
lands besides those now occupied.
Mr.. Turner said the gentleman (Com-
egys) misunderstood his amendment.
II was for the express purpose of includ-
ing other lands hereafter to be selected.
He presumed that no member proposed
to abdicate the sovereignty of state over
any kind of state land not actually oc.
I'll Al T.... .AI Gs.s
other "necdful buildings" unless that
included postoifice, custom houses, etc.,
it did no good, and he did not believe it
was intended to
ABDIcATE JURISDICTION
over postoftices and custom houses,
Il. II. Sullivan favored all of the pro-
posed amendment except striking out
'other necdful buildings" which was
the same wording as that which was in
the United States constitution.
MIR. Moore offered an amendment
changing the "l7th clause" to the "17th
paragraph
amendment.
The Chair-Not in order.
Mr. Comegys said this would give rise
to the question ofwhat was occupancy
under this section. lie was opposed to
it, believing it would result in stopping
government work.
Mr.. Willson moved that Mr. Rancic,
the government officer who had charge
of his work and was here with author.
ity to confer on this subject, be invited
to explain the matter to the conven-
ton.
MIR. Turner-.Motion not in order.
The Chair-Not i'm order.
Mr.. Stiles thought the amendment
was contradictory in character.
Mr.. Grifiitts said this was going fur
ther than the government asked, and so
he did not see why any gratuitous prof
fer should be put in. The government
would not make any appropriation until
this cession Of jurisdiction was made
and unless this article was adopted,t d,there
would 90 nothing done by the next con-
grcSs.
Mr.. Lillis asked what jurisdiction
would control ifa
CRIME SHOULD BE COMMITTED
on one of these reservations now.
Mr.. Grifitts--The United States court,
without doubt, and that would not be
changed at all by this article.
Mr.. Dunbar thought il right 10 include
future reservations SO that the govern