The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-25
THE FOUR NEW STATES.
Some Interesting Facts Regarding
Their Admission to the United
States.

Some Interesting Facts Regarding
Their Admission to the United
States
WASHINGTON, March 23.-Now that the
chief political appointments have been
made and the new administration has set
tied down to business, pubic interest has
centered in the four new states that will
soon be added to tie union and the me-
thods by which they will gain admission.
On April 10 the governors of the four
territories are required to issue proclama-
lions declaring that on May IA there shall
be an election for delegates to the conven-
tons which arc to be held on July 4 to
ratify or reject the constitutions which
were, in Dakota, somewhat permaturely
adopted, The North Dakota delegates will
meet at Bismarck, while their southern
brethren are instructed to assemble at
Sioux Falls. The Montana and Washing
ton delegates can meet where they please.
All persons who are qualified, under the
territorial laws. to vote will be permitted to
cast their ballots in the election of delegates,
and the mere fact that the candidates for
delegates are qualified for election to the
territorial legislature is sufficient to estab-
llsh their eligibility as delegates. The ter
rltories are mapped out in districts. and
each district IS entitled to three delegates.
Each voter will be allowed the privilege OF
voting for two delegates. The total num-
Der Of delegates in each convention is to be
seventy-tive.
As soon as an organization has been effect
ed the delegates are to declare, on behalf of
toe people of tue proposed sta eS, that they
adopt the constitution of the United States,
and as soon as that has been done the con-
ventions are authorized to form constitu-
tlo1s and state governments, respectively.
The debts and liabilities of the territories
are TO be assumed and paid by the states
which succeed the territories, respectively,
and provision is to be made by each state
for The establishment and maintenance of
systems of public schools, which shall he
open to all the children Of the respective
states and free from sectarial control
There is a possibility, somewhat remote,
OF course, but still possibility, that there
may be delay in the admission Of ono or
more of the proposed states. This hitch can
only take place If the people of either terri
tory shall refuse at the election which takes
place on October l to ratify the constitu-
ton prepared by the convention for that
particular territory. II that should occur,
then the present territorial form of govern
ment would continue, so far as that terri
tory was concerned, wnile the governor of
the terrt ~ set day for another election
aud had another convention frame another
and more popular state constitution.
The constitutional conventions of North
Dakota aud south Dakota are required to
appoint joint commission, composed of
not less than three members of each con
vention, and this comm ssion is to assemble
at Bismarck aad there agree upon an eQuita-
ble division of the properly of the territory
The commission is also to dispose of the
public records and adjust and agree upon
the amount of the debts and liabilities Of
the territory which shall be assumed and
nv hn cd gtofn IF
North Dakota and South Dakota. This
agreement is to be Incorporated in
the constitutions Of the two states, and
each state is to obligate itself to pay
its proportion of the debts and liabilities.
The returns of the elections, which will
take place in all four of the territories on
Oct l, and at which the state constitutions
are to be passed upon, are to be made to the
secretaries of each territory. who, with the
governor and chief justice thereof, are to
canvass the same. Ii the constitution is
ratlfiedt hen the governor will
certify the result to the
President of the United States, and if
the constitutions a"e republican in form,
and if the law has been complied with, then
the President will issue his proclamation,
announcing the result of the election in
each terIitory. That ends the formally and
on the day on which the proclamation is
issued the state or ates named in at
document wifi be deemed admitted by con-
gress into the union on an equal footing
with the original states.
Each state will of course have two
senators to represent it in the Senate, and
until the next general snsu', or until other
wise provided by law, North Dakota, Mon
tana and Washington will have but one
member each in the House of
Representatives; South Dakota will
have two for the present. These
representatives and the governors
aud other state officers will be elected on
Oct 1.-THE same day as that on which the
several constitutions shall be passed upon
by the people Of the pro 2osed states