Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-02
THOSE NEW STATES.
The Delegates Hard at Work Franz
ing Strong Constitutions.
MR.. HARRISON MAY BE HONORED,
A Suggestion to Change the Name of South
Dakota for That End.
THE CURIOUS LEGAL PROPOSITION
Which the Able Lawyers Finally Succeeded in DOOM
ing to Defeat.

A proposition to have the Supreme Court
pass upon the constitutionality of the pro-
posed laws was defeated after warm strug-
gle in the North Dakota Convention. 1t is
suggested to change the name Of South
Dakota to Benson" in honor of Mr.. Har-
rison.
BISMARCK. N. DAK.. August lat
last evenings session the convention,
through the efforts of Williams, of Burleigh,
amended the report of the Judiciary Com
mittee by providing that tine Supreme
Court shall give its opinion on any bill or
questions pending before the Legislature
when requested by the Legislature or the
Governor. This was adopted in Committee
of the Whole, and there was another lively
tilt to-day when Judge Carl led the opposi-
tion. 1t is looked upon as a handicap on
the Supreme Court and an injury
to the judiciary of the State.
Williams defended the proposition on the
ground that it placed the farmers of the
Legislature on an equality with the lawyers
in passing upon the constitutionality of an
tion OF last evening being reversed.
A resolution was adopted providing for
the appointment of a committee of three. of
which the President shall be Chairman, to
prepare an address to the people of North
Dakota, giving reasons for the adoption of
the constitution.
SUGGESTING A NEW NAME.
At the South Dakota Convention at Sioux
IeI IIa k.-s II H.
The regular batch OF communications sug-
gesting names for the new State were read.
This time it is Benson" in honor of the
President, the name being combination of
the first three and last three letters of his
full name. The South Dakota members of
the joint commission returned from Bis
marck to-day, and the consideration of their
report will begin tomorrow. The arrange
ment reached by the commission meets with
hearty approval.
At the Washington convention there was
a warm discussion on the clause for or
against allowing counties to grant subsi-
dies. A section was adopted forbidding all
subsidies. An amendment that this should
not be construed to prevent grant of right of
way and terminal facilities to railroads, was
also beaten, the vote being ayes 81, to Al
noes The convention then took up o re-
port Of corporations, others than municipal,
but adjourned without vote being taken.
The clause providing for railroad commits
sioners is being bitterly opposed as being
sand lot agitation, and the clause directing
foreign corporations to keep offices here will
undoubtedly be defeated. It is generally
conceded that several prominent delegates
have erred in their political chances for the
future by their votes and speeches yesterday
and to-day, and the complexion of political
matters is rapidly changing. The Demo-
cratic Territorial Committee meets here this
evening to decide on plan of campaign.
A QUESTION OF oATHs.
At Helena, Mont, the convention this
morning in committee OF the whole con-
sidered bill on miscellaneous subjects.
Another skirmish was held over the words
$50 help me God" in official oaths. They
were finally inserted. Section 4, relating
to laws governing fires arising from railway
locomotives, called out an animated discus
sion and was carried by tie vote.
Section 10, relating to the issuing of free
passes by railroad companies to State officers
or members of the Legislature, was discussed
at length, after which the convention took
up the proposition on the taxation of irri-
eating canals and bitches Of companies or
individuals. The mining and farming in
terests were divided on the subject.