Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-18
DAKOTA IN CONGRESS.

some Interesting Details of the First
DeSate in the III ouse over the South
DaiSo Ia Admission Bill.
Washington special, 18th: At 12:4O
Springer marched down the aisle with
Cox hanging on to his coat tail and whis-
pering last words in his ear, and senate
bill 1856 was called up. The first reading
followed. 1t consumed half an hour,
wore out two reading clerks, but did not
please the house. 1t was heard atten-
lively. Many members followed it with
Sprlnger's printed substitute in their
hands, noting the differences. SpringeS
was kept busy, clause by clause, explain
ing to little knot about him how much
better his pian WAS. Baker ehewed u
lightless cigar and Mcdonald bis mus
tsche. Clifford said last word to these
two and returned to his seat to put his
amendments in order. These amend
ments were approved by the committee
and il was MIR. Springer's notion that
they should be incorporated by unani-
nous consent before he took the floor to
move his omnibus substitute. This no
tion nearly cost him the chance to max @
slO CtuOOkdVC spCCSh LAO buu pEBpHE6u on
both bills. At the end of the reading
Clifford offered his anepdments and was
met by q parliamentary question as to
3 proper time to consider them. The
usual time for amendments is on second
reading by section. The lively and gen
eral interest in the territorial question
was then revealed. A dozen prominent
leaders of both parties, Rsed, Burrows,
Breckenridge and Baker among them,
took part in rapid sk,rmish OF ques-
tions, points of order, inquiries and sug.
gestions.
Finally Springer smoothed down OBJ.
jectlons on his side and got unanimous
consent for the immediate consideration
OF the amendments with the understand
ing that they were not 20 prejudice later
amendments by sections. Somebody de-
mandei their reading. pending which
Cox tried to steal the floor from Spring.
er and get in his speech first. With the
help OF the speaker he nearly succeeded.
Springer then gave mp the notion of ap
immediate vote on the Clifford amend.
ments, and began speaking at ! 80 with
these amendments, the pending question,
and the understanding that COX and
Baker were to have time after him. He
promised his remarks with the statement
that he would endeavor to secure vote
so-day. He sketched briefly the action
OF the constitutional convention in Da-
kota, in September 1885, which had
formulated constitution for the state
of south Dakota.
The constitution had been submitted
to the people and ratified by vote OF
25,000 to 5000. The total vote had been
only l.00p, while at that time there had
been $4,000 voters in, the territory. In
view OF the smallness of the vote, he
insisted, juss,ee &c .he people OF Dakota
re quired that new convention should
be held. He called attention to the
various provisions OF the constitution OF
1885, which he considered bore the marks
OF having been formulated hastily, and
argued that they presented another rea-
son why new convention should be
held. He criticised the clause of the
constitution declaring that ell the exist.
ing archives, records and books belong
ing to the territory OF Dakota should be
long to the state of South Dakota. Un-
der that clause the secretary of state OF
the new state wes Authorized to 10 to
Bismarck and denude the capital there
of every scrap OF paper and every book
belonging to the territory.
Me-. Cox believed that congress had
been derelict in regard to the admission
of Dakota and the other territories.
He was in favor of the omnibus bill
with certain amendments, but he was
willing to help along any little confer.
ence between the two houses of congress
which would result in elevatiDg the ter.
ri.ories into the rank OF statehood
Every territory except Utah should be
admitted into the union when it had 9
population sufficient under the law to
elect mernber OF congress-. Some gen
tleman talked about the annexation oi
Canada. It would be time enough to
ennex Canada wheo the nebulous terri
tories had put off their rudimentary
and donned their stately stoles OF man
hood.
In conclusion Mr.. Cox paid an elc-
qIent tribute to the great west and was
warmly applauded. Mr.. Clifford defended
the constitution adopted. by the eonstitu.
tional convention OF Dakota from the
criticisms advanced against il by Mr.
Springer.
The people Of south Dakota were sat-
,efied with 1t. The people OF Dakotf
wanted no further vote upon the ques
ton of division. They would never &c
cept the admission of Dakota as on.
state.
When the heuse adjourned at o'olocl
u was with satisfied sense OF inotahl,