Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1889-07-18
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
This Body has Settled Down to Busi-
ness at Last---RaIning Proposed
Articles---A Couple Of Lively Tilts.

BISMARCK, july ID Special. 1.-The
constitutional convention has settled
down to business and the work for it to
accomplish has fairly begun. The ses-
sion today opened with two first class
wrangles, a la legislative. Mr.. Stevens
of Ransom introduced resolution as
follows:
Resolved, That all matter to be incor-
porated in the constitution shall be first
introduced IN the convention by resolu-
tion, be read first time and on second
reading shall be referred to the appro-
pirate committe without debate, and no
matter shall be incorporated in the con-
stitution until the subject to which 1t
relates shall have first been considered
and reported upon by the committee OF
the whole. Each article or resolution so
introduced shall be printed, giving its
consecutive number of introduction, and
a copy thereof furnished to each member
before its second reading.
Messrs. Garland and Harris jumped on
to this and ripped it up the back, on
the grovnd that the standing committees
could not perform their proper functions
if they were deprived of the privilege of
introducing original matter. The dis
cusslon that followed would rank along
with q eruption of the volcano from
Charles Nix county, with Newman as
the agitating motive power. On motion
of Mr.. Spaulding the matter was made a
special order for Monday at three o'clock.
Mr.. Lauder of Wahpeton offered this
and moved its adoption:
Resolved, That a select committee of
five be appointed hy the president, to
whom shall be referred all Questions re-
lating to the seat OF government.
Of course trouble followed. Mr. Nicer
succeeded in having the resolution in
definitely postponed.
Mr.. Johnson offered proposed articles
OF the constitution providing for reli
giols liberty, that public schools shall be
free from sectarian control, that the peo-
pie forever dlsclaim all right to unappro-
priated public lands and all lands owned
by Indian tribes, that debts incurred by
the territory previous to statehood shall
be assumed by the state in the proper
tion agreed upon by the Joint commission
etc, and SO on.
The same member introduced a pro-
posed article governing railrna.iA-. ',,odel-
ed after The South DrROta constits1ti@s11.a
Mr.. Parsons introduced a very sensible
article providing for the location OF the
seat of government.
Proposed articles prohibiting the saIo
or manufacture of intoxicating liquors
were submitted by Messrs. Pennington,
of Dickey, Rowe Of Dickey, Haugen OF
Grand Forks, and Pollock of Cass. All
of the gentlemen ask that the penalty be
fixed by the legislature.
Mr.. Camp: Providing that the govern
or, attorney general and judges Of the
supreme court shall constitute board
of pardops, in which shall be vested
full power to remit fines and forfeit
ures, and to grant reprieves, commuta-
tion of sentence and pardons. The
meetings of the board shall be held
at the capitol, and it shall require
two thirds vote of the board to grant par
don.
By Mr.. Clark, providing that the
legislature shall establish courts of ar
bitration, whereby differences may be
settled without submitting them to trial
by jury.
BY Mr.. Rolfe, that all taxes raised
shall he uniform on all real and per-
sonal property, in proportion to the val
ue. ... .-.,
Mr.. Spaulding introduced brief and
original preamble.
Mr.. Gray: Providing for minority rep
resentatlon in legislative elections.
By Mr. Bean, providing for the location
of county seats. ..
By Mr.. Bartlett, of Griggs: Providing
that the legislative assembly shall consist
of two houses, the house of representa-
t1yes to have not less than S5 nor more
than $50 members; the senate to be COM
posed of one member from each organiz-
ed county.
BY Mr.. Bartlett, of Griggs: Pre-
scrlbing that all ballots shall be print
ed on plain white paper; that the tick
ct shall contain the name OF no candi-
date not nominated by the party,
the name of which is at the head, and
any ticket bearing the name of one
not nominated by the party shall be ille-
gal.
BY Mr.. Camp: Providing that no act
shall embrace more than one subject,an
that clearly expressed.
BY Mr.. Bartlett of Dickey: Providing
that the legislature shall make provision
for ascertaing qualifications of aspir-
ants for employment in the public ser
vice, and that there shall be no political
test.
On special invitation, ,PresidentSprague
of Grand Forks University, made short,
appropriate address upon education, off
ering it as the panacea for labor troubles,
strikes, anarchy, communism and other
social ills. Adjourned.
NOTES.
The South Dakota members OF the
JOINT commission, appointed to divide
between the two states the assets, liabll-
tiles and archives of the territory. arrived
today. They are Mai. A. G. Kellam. DIR.
V. r. McGiilycuddy, Chas. II. Price,
Henry Neill, S. d. Brott, E. W. Caldwell
and William Elliott. Col. John Fl. Drake
and L. p McLlarren accompany the
commission as clerks, and Col. [. W.
Goodner, stenographer. The North Da