The Portland daily press., 1889-02-21
IN THE PRESIDENTS POSSESSION,
No Chance TO Pocket Veto the
Direct Tax Bill.
Another Step Taken Towards PIac-
ing Those stars In the Flag.
Reed, Randall and Cannon May Sur
prise the Free Traders.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20-The contest over
the direct tax bill was resumed in the House
today. Mr.. Caswell called up the confer
enee report as matter of privilege and de-
clined to yield to enable the Speaker to clear
the table Of Senate bills. Mr.. Crisp raised
the question Of consideration against the
report, stating that while he was willing
to give precedence to the appropriation bills
he would antagonize any other measure.
The House determined. yeas 134, nays so, to
consider the conference report. A motion to
reconsider was laid on the table and dis
cussion ensued upon the adoption Of the re-
port.
The constitutional features Of the bill were
discussed by Messrs. Oates and Hooker. Mr..
CaswelPs conference report was agreed to +;
yeas, 16S; nays, IS.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, presented the
conference report on the territorial bill. The
bill provides for the admission Of the States
OF North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana
and Washington. The territory OF Dakota
is to be divided on the line of the seventh
parallel produced due West to the western
boundary Of the territory. Delegates elected
TO the constitutional convention North of
this parallel:will assemble at Bismarck those
elected South, at Sioux Falls. Delegates to
the conventions will be elected on the Tues
day after the first Monday of May next to
meet July 4th to Tatlfy the constitu-
tion Of the, United States. They
are authorized there upon to form
provided that at the election for delegates to
the convention in South Dakota the electors
shall vote for or against the Sioux Falls con-
stitution. II the majority is for the consti-
tuition, the convention shall re-submit to the
people Of South Dakota for ratification or re-
lection. the constitution framed at Sioux
Falls and also the articles and propositians
separately submitted. IL majority shall
be for the constitution, irrespective Of the
articles separately submitted, the State of
south Dakota shall be admitted as a State
unaer sald constitution. But If majority
OF the votes cast shall be against the Sioux
Falls constitutin, 1t shall be the duty of the
convention to form constitution. Is
made the duty Of the President to admit the
four new States by proclamation, il the con-
stitutions formed are ratified at the elections
On the first Tuesday in October. Each Of the
new States is entitled to one representative
in Congress, except South Dakota, which Is
entitled to two.
Section II provides that all lands herein
granted for educational purpose shall be dis
posed OF only at public sales and for not less
than $40 per acre, the proceeds to constitute
a permanent school fund. The said lands
may be leased for periods Of not more than
nve years In quantities not exceeding one
section to any one person or company, such
land not to be subject to preemption, home-
stead entry or any other entry under the
land laws Of the United States, but reserved
for school purposes only.
The report was adopted.
The House went into committee of the
whole on the post Office appropriation bill.
Little progress was made and at 5 o'clock
the committee rose and the house took a
recess until 7.3O.
At the evening session number of bills
reported by the commerce committee were
passed.