Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-08
DAKOTA TERRlTORY'S DEBT.
Tho Subject Rather Difficult One
to Handle.
A LIMIT TO TIE AMOUNT.
The Sum Which the Constitution AL
lows IL to Incur Considered
Entirely Too Smali--A
Plan for Relief
Slight Trouble I'm Prosnoot.

SIOUX FALLS, S. D., July 7.--TSpecal
Telegram to The BEE. UNLESS tho con-
stitutional convention stands by the recon.
mendation which its committee on state and
county Indebtedness makes there will be q
frst-class row over the limitation of state
Indebtedness which is the most important
problem to be determined The fight over it
will be commenced by the middle of the
week, il not earlier, and If there is dead
lock that will be the bone of 1t in all proba
bility. The constitution of the state of South
Dakota, as II now stands, provides that the
Indebtedness shall at no time exceed $500, 000
At the very outset 1t will be compelled to
take upon itself a larger Indebtedness than
this amount in round figures. South
Dakota will inherit 100000 of the
s1,1OO, 600 or 81, 200,0 600 Indebtedness of the
territory on the basis now understood for
the apportionment or division OF the debt.
South Dakota, to be moro precise, will as
sumo $780, 900 indebtedness. It is held by
some of the technical constructiorists that
the constitution will not have to be changed,
as the language of 1t means that the state
shall not contract or create more that $500, =
900 Indebtedness, whereas the $3.50, 600 Il
will assume is a territorial debt BE that as
it may, the state will have $780, 900 to pay,
and so the matter is as long as it is short,
looked at in any light. Delegate Sterling,
Of Sprink county, will be chairman of the
committee which will report on this subject,
and he will recommend one of three propo-
stions, namely:
/. That the limit in the constitution 90 in
creased to $3.50, 900, leaving the Legislature no
power to create debts of any kind.
g That the limit as it now stands, be not
changed, but that provision be made on q
t1t, %,
Dakota's share OF the territory's debts.
B. That the limit be increased 10
S750,000 which would allow Sl5O,000
for necessary expenses incident to the
changes which must be made in the coming
state.
1t is generally believed by the leaders of
the convention that the second proposition
will be the one recommended. There would
not, as the conditions now exist, be any
funds for establishing now capitol. and,
raise funds unless the constitu-
tion was changed. This is very i'm
portant matter, and, as l have said,
unless the convention readily adopts the
recommendations of the committee it will
lead TO almost interminable discussion.
Many are the demands being made for
changes in the constitution, but the leaders
will try to confine the work to as small
bounds as possible. A demand is made by
politicians for large increase in the legis-
lative districts. The constitution at present
provides for nlnety-nine members of the
lower house. The politicians say there must
be l49, an increase of fifty. The constitu-
tion now provides for three members of the
upper house, or senate. The politicians say
this number must be increased to about fifty.
The statesmen say that If this is done Presl-
dent Harrison may refuse to issue a procla-
nation admitting South Dakota TO state
hood, and thus congress would have to be
invoked for another law. The constitution
at present provides that but one constitu-
tional amendment shall be submitted at n
time to the people for ratification. Nearly
every one says this is foolish and a demand
will come that this be stricken out. The
county officers in the proposed state want
officers elected last November shall serve till
the regular state election in 1892 but this
will not carry. A caucus is talked of for the
purpose of agreeing upon an order for busi-
ness amendments to be made. Unless this is
done there may be merry war at any time.
PERRY S. HEATH.