Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-22
pRnkprcrtrE NrK srATES.

BHOSf'EtIIhE NEW SIdl EtN-
The agreement OF the conference
committees Of the two houses OF con-
gress on the omnibus bill for the admis-
sion to statehood OF North and South
Dakota, Washington and Montana was
ratified by the senate and house on
Wednesday, and the bill is now in the
hands OF the president, The gratitica-
tion manifested in the house whom the
report of the committee was adopted
has been felt very generally through
out the country, and particularly by
the people OF the west and north
west. II not better than had
been hoped for, the success of
the measure almost in its entirety as the
republicans desired is more than had
been expected from this congress. 1t
would perhaps not be wholly fair to
claim it rs n republican victory, since
the credit of the result is certainly in
part due TO the efforts OF such demo-
Gratis as Mr.. Cox and those of his party
whom he was able TO rally about him.
There has been no more earnest
friend of the eligible territories
and especially of Dakota, than
the New York congressman, and
the work nc has done in etIecting
the gratifying result has been so inIluen-
tial as to merit the hcarticst acknowledge
ment. Doubtless but for his efforts
Springer could not have been induced
TO surrender nearly every point upon
which he made an issue except the one
as to the time of election, and Mr..
Barnes of Georgia would not at the last
moment have withheld opposition to
the bill.
The fate of this very important
measure is now in the hands of Presi-
dent Cleveland, and his treatment of it
wilt be awaited with anxious interest.
a rumor followed the adoption by con-
gress of the conference committees re-
ports that the president was likely to
veto the bill, but later advices say that
he is expected to sign it to-day. 1t
is hardly conceivable that Mr.. Clcve-
land could make the grave mistake of
killing this measure. 1t would be n
crowning act of defiance of public opin-
ion. which could only be explained on
the ground of bitter personal and partl-
san feeling, and he could strike no Sc
vcrer blow at his own party, while he
would certainly consign himself to per-
Detual political obscurity. He undoubt-
cdly has the wisdom to see these inevi-
table consequences of vctoof the terri
torial bill, and there is reason, therefore,
for feeling of confidence that he
will give 1T his approval. Assuming
that this will be done, the present year
will become memorable for the admis-
sion of four states to the union, adding
eight senators and five representatives
to congress. When the territories have
complied with the provisions of the bill
as to forming constitutional and state
governments, for which purpose conven-
tions are to meet July 4, and the action
Of such conventions is ratified by the
people at an election to be held in Octo
ber, it is made the duty of the presi-
dent Immediately upon official notice
by the governors OF the rati-
cation of all the constitutions to issue
his proclamation declaring each of
them state in the union. The course
to be pursued is plain and simple, and
there need be no complications or diff
ficultcs to prevent the four territories
entering the union as states in time to
be represented in the next congress at
the date of its regular meeting. From
the day this bill becomes Il law the ter
ritories concerned will doubtless eXper-
fence fresh impulse of progress and
prosperity.