West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-02-28
FOUR new STATES.
Both Houses Pass the Omnibus
Territorial Bill.
The Two Dakotas, Montana and
Washington Admitted.

After years OF active endeavor on the part
OF It's citizens the Territory OF Dakota is to
be clothed with Statehood She comes into
tho Union. however, as two States, and with
Montana and Washington, whose admission
was also parmitted by Congress. the number
OF American States will be Increased to for
ty-two.
The conference report ON the Omnibus
Territorial bill has been agreed to by both
Senate and House, and il only needed the
signature OF the President in order to become
a law.
In the House the adoption OF the bill was
greeted with applause. but In the Senate the
provisions OF the bin gave rise 20 some
debate.
Mr.: Springer, OF Illinois, presented tho re.
port In the House and Mr.. Platt i'm tho Senate
The. bill as agreed TO in conference provides
Tor the admission OF the States or North
Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana and
w Washington. The attempt to induce the
Territory OF Washington TO accept the name
of Tacoma has been frutless.
Ihe territory OF Dakota is 10 be divided
ON the line OF the seventh standard parallel
produced due west 10 the western boundary
oi the Territory. The delegates elected 70 the
constitutional Convention north OF this par
allel shall assemble at Bismarck aud those
elected south of the parallel at Sioux Falls
Ihe delegates TO tho Convention in each OF
the proposed new States shall be elected on
Aho Autcuhy oiter tho nfNt Monday in NAV
next and shall meet on July and declare
that they adopt the Constitution of the
United states. They are authorized thereupon
to form constitutions and State governments
lt rs provided that at the election for dole
gates TO the Convention In South Dakota the
electors shall vote for or against the Sioux
Falls constitution. II majority OF the
votes shall be for the constitution tho Con-
yention shall resuhmit 20 the people OF South
DaSota Tor ratification or rejection the
at Nas....- I'LL
also the articles and propositions sepa.
rately submitted, including tho uues-
ton OF locating the temporary seat OF gov.
ernment, with such changes only as relate 10
the name and boundary of the proposed
state, 70 tho reapportionment of the
judicial and legislative districts and such
amendments as may be necessary I'm order
TO comply with the provisions OF this
net; and II a majority Of the votes cast
ON the ratification or rejection OF the copsti.
tuition shall be for the constitution, irrespec.
tive OF the articles separately submitted. the
State of South Dakota shall be admitted as
State in tho Union under said constitution,
as hereinafter provded but the archives,
records and books OF the Territory OF Da-
Sota shall remain at Bismarck, the capital of
North Dakota, until an agreement in refer.
snce thereto IL reached by said States
But IL at the election OF delegates to the
Constitutional Convention in South Dakota
a majority of all the votes then cast shall be
against the Sioux Falls constitution il shall
be the duty of the Convention 70 form a
constitution as II that question had not been
submitted TO the people. IL is made
the duty OF the President 20 ad
proclamation il the constitutions formed are
ratified at the election TO be held on tho first
Tuesday In October. Zach of the new States
shall be entitled to one Representative In
Congress, except South Dakota, which shall
DO entitled 20 two Representatives
Section II provides that all lands herein
granted for educational purposes shall be dis
posed OF only at public sale aud at "A price OF
not less than $40 per acre, the proceeds to CON
stitute permanent school fund, tho interest
u which only shall bo expended I'm the sup
port OF said schools But said lands
may under such regulations as
the legislatures shall prescribe be
leased for periods OF not moro than
live years in quantities not exceeding one
section to any one person or company; and
such land shall not be subject 90 re-enption,
homestead entry or any other entry under
the land laws Of the United States, whether
surveyed or unsuryeyed, but shall bo re
served for school purposes only.
All mineral lands are exempted from the
grants made by the act The two Dakotas
are 70 be added to Justice Miller's circuit
the Eighth and Washington and Montana
10 Justice Fields lthe Ninth
II the anxiety Of the people In those Terri
tories is as great as II has been represented
South Dakota, Montana, and WaehinQ-
ton should not be States within nine
months and also DO represented by Sen.
ltOrs and Representatives i'm the first regular
ossion Of the Fifty-frst Congress, while the
people living north and south OF the seveptb
standard parallel which is 10 be the bound
ary line between the two Dakotas, are 70
have n chance TO say whether there shall bo q
greater difference than Is promised between
the two.