The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-07-19
DAKOTA CONSTITUTION.
Spirited debates in the Sioux
Convention Over a Memorial
to Harrison.
Committees OF the North Dakota
Body Announced by the
President.
An Address from Governor Mel.
lette-Frau3s of the Ballot
Boz Denounced.

SIOUX FALLS, S. D., July 1e.-The
eighth day session of the South Dakota
constitutional convention was marked by
another spirited debate. 1t had been
proposed to memorialize the president to
suspend mineral entries upon school
lands near large cities in agricultural
districts until the state is organized and
can defend its rights thereto, in case
such entries are attempted to obtain such
lands fraudulently. Strong opposition
was offered on the ground that the ordi-
nary operation of the law is sufficient to
prevent such fraud, and that to ask the
president to suspend an entire class of
entries was equiyalentto to petitioning him
to do the same thing that resulted in SO
much criticism Of ex-Commissioner
Sparks. 1t was further opposed on the
ground that even if parties obtained
possession of school lands under cover of
mineral land laws, and such lands shall
prove non-mineral, the title thereof
could ultimately revert to the public,
and therefore no loss be sustained. De-
spite these considerations, however, the
memorial was adopted by vote of 32 to
49, ALI opposition to the reference of
every part of the constitution of 1885 to
appropriate committees was withdrawn,
notwithstanding the strong objections of
of going outside the strict limitations of
pected that this matter would result in
protracted debate. An examination
of the enrolled copy Of the old consti-
tuition shows large number of errors in
construction and punctuation. These
will be corrected, and the document has
been referred to a committee for that
purpose. A petition was received from
the Methodist Ministers association of
Southeastern Dakota, asking the con-
vention to provide safeguards for honest
elections in the constitution, and also
that the vote on state offices and tempo
rary location of the state capitol be
taken at a different time than that of
the state constitution, when every effort
will be made to guarantee an honest
election.
The memorial from the Sioux Falls
conference, which consists of twenty
three churches, shows that the Method
lists are yitally interested in the matter
of prohibition. The report of the COM
mittee on congressional and legislative
sentative to every 600 votes polled last
y
votes. This will make 100 representa-
tives and 40 senators.
Just before adjournment Boucher in
troduced number Of resolutions which
were of nature of bill of rights. 1t
provided that the constitution should
grant religious federation, protection to
person and property, that the people of
the state should relinquish title to gov
ernment lands and to all Indian reserva-
tiens until title should be extinguished,
that property of residents and non-resi-
dents should be equally taxed, that
system of common schools which shall
be open to all children and free from
sectarian control. All the provisions
were to be irrevocable except by action
of the people Of the state and of the
United States. 1t was referred