Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-03-01
The Enabling Act,
Some Of Its Provisions Relating to Washington.

Some Of Its Provisions Relating TO Washington.
Ever since the fact that we were to
to be admitted as State became
known, inquiries have been made on all
sides as to what the enabling act con-
tanned. Yesterday was the birthday
of the OLYMPIAN and hence the provis-
ions Of the act could not be published
in this paper, but with an energy that
will be feature Of this publication
we are to-day enabled to lay be
| fore our readers some OF the most
important provisions. 1t is with a
proud sense of satisfaction, if We
do say it ourselves, that We present
them in advance of any other publica-
ton west OF the Rocky Mountains:
WHAT THE BILL PROVIDES.
The main provisions Of the bill are /:
All that part of the area of the United
States now constituting the Terrific
ries of Dakota, Montana and Washing
ton may become the States OF North
Dakota, outh Dakota, Montana and
Washington with certain provisions.
All persons WHO are qualified by the
laws Of the Territories to vote for Rep
resentativcs to the Legislative Assem-
bly, are authorized to vote for and
choose delegates to form conventions
in the proposed States, and the quail
ifications for delegates to such con-
vention shall be such as by the laws of
said Territories respectively, persons
are required to possess to be eligible to
the Legislative Assemblies thereof;
and the aforesaid delegates to form
said conventions shall be apportioned
within the limits of the proposed States,
in such districts as may be established
as herein provided. in proportion to
the population in each of said coun-
ties and districts as near as may be, to
be ascertained at the time OF making
said apportionments by the persons
authorized to make the same. In
each of the districts three delegates
shall be elected; but no elector shall
vote for more than two persons for
delegates.
The Governors Of the Territories
mentioned shall, By proclamation, Or
der an election of the delegates to the
Conventions to form Constitutions in
each of the proposed States, to be held
the Tuesday after the second Monday
n May, 1889. which proclamation
shall be issued the 18th day of April.
Such election shall be conducted, the
returns made, the result asccrtained,
and the certificates to persons elected
to such convention issued in the
same manner as is prescribed by the
laws Of the Territories regulating cleo
tions for Delegates to Congress. The
number of delegates to the conven-
tions, respectfully, shall be seventy
five, and all persons resident in said
proposed States who are qualified
voters of said Territories, as provided,
shall be entitled to vote upon the
election of delegates, and under such
rules and regulations as the conven-
tions may prescribe, not in conflict
with this act, upon the ratification or
rejection OF the Constitutions.
The delegates to the conventions,
elected as provided in the act, shall
meet ut the seat of government Of each
OF the Terri.ories-ex ept tn. delegate
,lected in South Dakota, who shall
meet at Sioux Falls-tho 4th day of
July, 1889, and after organization shall
declare ON behalf of tn people Of the
propos d States that they adopt the
COnstitu ion Of the Unit d States;
whereupon these conventions are au-
thorized to form Constitutions and
State & vernmcnts for the propos' d
states, respectively. The usual condi-
tions of republican governmt MT
equal rights and Ielig'o GUS tole ation-|
are incorporated. Also the require
ment that the debts of the Territories
sh all be assumed by the States respec-
lively and provision he made for pub
lie schools.
The constitutional conventions
.hich may assemble in North Dakota,
Montana ard Washington shall pro-
vide in like manner for submitting the
Contributions formed by them to the
people OF these proposed st tes respec-
lively for ratification or lection at
elections to b. held in the proposed
States the first Tuesday in October.
At the elections SO provided for the
qualified voters shall vote dir ctl, for
or against the proposed Constitutions
and for or against any articles or prop
los ions separately submitted. The re-
turns of these electio shall be m de
to the Secretary of each of the Terri
tories, who, with the Governor and
Ch ef Justice thereoi, or any two Of
them, shall canvass the same, and if a
majority of the legal votes cast shall
be for the Coustitut on the Governor
81 all certify the resu to he President
of the United States, together wi h
statement OF the votes cast thereon
a,d upon Sc. arate art cles or prop
ositions and copy of the Constitu-
ton, articles, propositions and ordin-
ances. And if the Constitutions and
Governments of these proposed States
are Republican in form and if all the
provisions OF the act have been COM
piled with in their formation, it shall
be the duty of the President OF the
| II.