The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-22
THE OMNIBUS BILL.
A Complete Reproduction of the
Omnibus Bill as 1t Was
Finally Passed.


Dividing and Admitting to State
hood tho World-Famcd Ter.
ritOry Of Dakota.
Read It and Learn Its Provisions
for Your Future Guitl-
ancc.
An act to provide for the division OF
}akota into two states and to enable the
people OF North Dakota, South Dakota,
Montana and Washington to from consti.
tutions and state governments and to be
admitted into the union on an equal foot.
ing with the original states, and to make
donations Of public lands to such states.
Section 1. That the babitants OF all
that part Of the area OF the United States
now constituting the territories of d ak ota,
Montana and Washington, as ct present
!iescribed, may become the states OF North
Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and
Washington, respectively. rs hereinafter
provided.
Sec. 9. The area comprising the terri.
tory OF Dakota shall, for the purposes OF
this act, bc divided on the limo OF tho sev.
enth standard parallel produced due west
to tho westcrn boundary Of said territory;
and the delegates elected as hereinafter
provided to the constitutional convention
in diatricts north oi said parallel shall as
semble In convention, at the time pre-
scril,ed in this act, Mt the city OF bismarck;
and the delegates elected in districts south
OF said parallel shall, at the same tins, as.
selnble fn convention at tho city OF Sioux
Falls.
SEc. 3. That all persons who are quail.
fled by the laws of said territories to vote
for representatives to the legislative hs-
semh'ics thereof are hereby authorized to
vote Tor and choose delegates to form c0n.
ventions in said proposed states; and the
qualifications for tlelega tes toRuch conven-
tiohs shall be such as by the laws OF sn,d
territories respectively persons are rel,iir.
ed to pussess to lie eligible to the lcgisla.
two assem- lilies thereof; and the aforesaid
delegates to form said conventions aha hn
appointed within the limits Of the proposed
states, in such districts as may lie estab.
lished rs herr'n provided, in proportion to
tho population in each Of said counties
and districts, ns near us NAV he, to be as.
certained at the time OF making said np.
portionm"nts by tho persons hereinafter
authorized to make tho same, from the
best information obtainable, in each OF
which districts three delegates shall be elect
ell, but no elcctur s:inll vote for more than
two persons ior delegates to such con.
ventinns that said appoI tionmcnts shall
shall be made by the governor. the
chief jus,icc, and tho secretary OF
said territories; and the governors OF said
territories shall. by proclamation, order
an election OF the delegates in each Of id
proposed ri atcs. to be held on tho Tues
day after the second Monday in May, 1889,
which proclamation shall be issued on tho
10th day of April, 1883; and such election
shall be conducted, returns made, the re.
suit asccrtnined, and the certificates to
pers ons elected to such conventions issued
IN the same manner as is prescribed by the
laws OF the said territories regulating cleo.
tions therein for delegates to congress; and
the number Of votes cast for delegates in
each precinct shall also be returned. The
number vi delegates to sad conventions
respectively shail he seventy.iivc; ana all
persons resident in eaitl proposed statss
who arc qualified voters OF snid territories
ns herein provided. shall he entitled to vote
upon tho election of deega tes and unuer
such rules and regulations as said conven.
tions may prescribe. not in conflict with
this act, upon the ratification OF rejection
ot the constitutions.
@eN' 4. AhuC Nho ueiesdtco W tue con.
ventiOns elected as provided in this act
shall meet ut the sent OF government oi
eacli OF said territories. except the del.
egatcs elected in South Dakota, who shall
meet ut the city OF Sioux Falls. on the 4th
day oi July, 1889. and. after organization
shall declare, ON behalf OF tine people Of
said proposed states that they adopt the
constitution OF tho Cnitod States; where.
upon the sa id conventions shall he, and are
i2oI In EN-
and state governments for said proposed
states. respectively. the constitutions
shall Dcrcpublcan in form, and make no
distinction in civil or political rights on
account OF race or color. except rs to
Indians not taxed. and not to be repug.
nant to the constitution al tho United
Stntes and the principles OF the declaration
shall provide, by ordinances irrevOcablo
without the concent Of tho United States
and the people OF said states:
First--Thut perfect federation OF religious
sentiment shall be secured, and that no in
habitant OF said states shall ever be mo.
iested in person or property on account ol
bis or her mode Of religious worship.
Second-That the people ihhabiting said
proposed states do agree and declare that
the unappropriated public lands yinu with
in the boundaries thereof, and to all lands
lying within said limits owned or held by
any Indian or Indian tribes; and that nn.
til the title there to shall have been extin.
gnished by the United States, the same
shall be and remain subject to the
disposition Of the United States. and
said Indian lands shall remain under the
absolute jurisdiction and control of tho
conyres. OF the United States. that the
lands belonging to citizens OF tho United
States residing without the said states
shall never be taxed at higher rate than
the lands belonging to residents thereof
that no taxes shall be imposed by the
states on lands or property therein belong
ing to or which may hereafter be purchas-
cd by tn" United States or reser we'd for its
use. But nothing herein, or in the ordi.
nanccs herein provided for, shall preclude
the said states from taxing as other lands
are taxed any lands owned or held by any
Indian who has severed his tribal relH-
tions, and hes obtained f.om the United
states OF from any person title thereto
by patent or tther grant. save and except
such lands as have been or may be grant.
cd to any Indian or indians under any act
o' congress- continuing a provision exempt
ing the lands thus granted from taxation;
but said ordinances slIali provide that all
such lands shall DO exempt from taxation
by said states 80 long and to such extent
as such act of congress may prescribe.
Third-That the debts and liabilities oI
said territories shall bc assumed and paid
by said states respectively.
Fnurth-That provision shall be made
tOr the establishment and maintenance o;
systems III public schools, which shall he
open To ri! the children OF said states, aud
Tree from sertnrinn control.
See. !. That the convention which shall
assen.b!eat Bismarck shall form a constitu-
to-. and state government for state to
tie Known ns North Dakota, aud tho con.
vention which shall assemble Mt Sioux
Falls shall form q constitution and state
government Tor IL state TO no known rs
South Dakota. Provided, that tho ielec.
tlnp for Delegates to the constitutional
fohvc;ition in South Dakota. as 'hererbc-
lore provided each e!ector nuuy have writ
ten or printed ON his ballot the words ''for
tie Sioux Falls llsronstitution," or the words
against the Sioux Falls constitution,"
and the votes on this question nhall he
returned aud canvaFaed in tho same
manner Hs Ior tho election provided
Tor III section three nf this act; and if 4
majority OF all votes cast on this question
shall be '.or the Sioux Falls constitution"
1t shall be the duty OF theconvention which
may assemble at Sioux Falls, as herein
provided. to reaubinit to tho people of
south Dakota. Tor RATIFICATION or rejection
at the election hereinafter provided for in
this act. the constitution framed at Sioux
Falls and adopted N0v.3. 1855. and als0
the articles and propositions separately
submitted at that election. including the
question OF locating tho temporary seat
OF governments. with such changes only rs
relate to the name and boundary of the