Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-21

Line main features In the Springer
omnibus bill for the admission of South
Dakota along with other territories are
presented today. AS 1t comes to us the
bill is somewhat mixed in it's provisions,
Its incongruities and Inconsistencies are
all the people OF Dakota at this time will
be disposed to criticise. While they do
not Like the general plan constructed by
MIR. Springer, they are willing to take it
if will give South Dakota q place in
the union. 1t is apparent from Pc
rnsal of the bill that the document as
fashioned by Springer was free from the
vial objections that might be urged
against the bill as it finally came
through the ordeal of passage. The
incongrulties and inconslstencies were
evidently injected into the measure in
the form of amendments and these
amendments all had something
to do or say abont the Sioux Falls
constitution. For example, it is provided
that there shall be an election on the
l4sh OF next May, at which all of Dakota
shall vote upon the Sioux Falls ccnsti-
tion, though the bill clearly provides
that the Sioux Falls constitution shall
apply only to the south half of Dakota.
1t Is stated in effect that If the Sioux
Falls constitution is defeated (being
voted upon IN May by North Dakota ns
we'll as South Dakots) then North Da-
kota can go ahead and adopt and ratify
constitution and put itself in rhape
for statehood, while South Dakota sits
down and looks on. All this could be
brought about if North Dakota saw fit
to defeat the South Dakota constitution
at the May election. The May election
was evidently intended as an
election only to decide the
question of division and to
elect delegates to two constitutional
conventions. But IN adopting the
amendment pertaining 10 the sioux
Falls constitution the measure was dis
torted as We have indicated.
Ii is further provided that upon the
ratification OF the Sioux Falls constitu
tion (which might occur at the May cleo
tiop) the president shall proclaim South
Dakota q state. AS we cannot, under
the terms of the bill, elect state officers
until November, South Dakota would
remain for period of four offive months
d state without any government. Con-
gress evidently docs not intend this.
II is further provided in the bill that,
in case the territory votes IN May to di.
vide itself, the South Dakota delegates
elected in May shall assemble in July
at Sioux Falls and shall adopt the Sioux
Falls. constitution OF 1886 and its separate
clauses and shall submit the same to q
vote OF the people on the 5th OF next
November. This provision is mandatory.
The convention shall assemble and shall
adopt end submit the Sioux Falls con-
stitution CT l695-no more and no less
excepting that they must change the
north boundary TO the seventh standard
parallel and may give the state
name. Under this provision all the
South Dakota constitutional convention
will be permitted to do OF its own mo-
tion to agree upon name for touth
Dakota. We do not imagine congress
intended to place this restriction upon
constitutional convention. II would be
as we'll to dispense with the convention
entirely and submit the Sioux Falls con.
stitution directly by congressional enact.
ment, after the the method of the Plstt
bill.
The shape of the bill leads to the con-
clusion that the several references to the
Sioux Falls constitution were hastily
fred in as amendments during the fight
in the house over the measure without re.
gard to relevancy or effeot. II is not fair
TO South Dakota to pass the bill IN its
present shape. II the senate will amend
it by striking out all references to the
Sioux Falls constitution 1t will be much
more satisfactory.
There are some other provisions in
the bill that are Objectionable, but can
be endured for the sake of admission. 1t
does not suit the people OF South Dako-
to TO see the name Dakota
arbitrarily given 10 North Dakota ana
| it does not suit he.people OF any portion
OF Dakota to be compelled to again vote
on the division proposition. But these
objections will be waived in the interest
OF statehood. The other defccts men,
| toned should be cured.