Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-16
DAKOTA CONSTITUTION MAKING.


Ihe work OF the Joint commission was
accepted without debate or dissent by the
convention on the Sd. The last matter to
occupy the attention of the convention to
any extent was the matter of Indebtedness.
TO what extent does the limitation of
$5OO,OOp bind?" has been a dsbatable
question. How can the constitution
name this as limit when already the debt
inherited exceeds S7CO,OOO?" The COM
mlttee on Indebtedness recommended
Judge Corson's suggestion that clause
be added to the effect that the article
be construed to mean that the state
debt be limited to $5OO,UOo over and
above the debt Inherited from Dakota
territory. Much discussion followed. At
last Judge Edgerton, calling MIR. Williams
10 the chair, took the floor and offered an
amendment that the total state debt be
limited to 100000 over and above the
debt inherited from the territory. This
motion prevailed. 1t is not clear whether
this inherited debt means the S71 ,,,,CO of
bonds issued for various public bull ings
or whether it also will include the $4,000
which is to be paid to North Dakota.
AT the evenings session it was decided
that the salary of members of the legisla-
ture be So per day and the length of the
session sixty days, except the first session,
which should be 1870 days.
In the convention on the 5th warm
time prevailed for few minutes. Secre-
tary Richardson sent a discussing clerk
from Bismarck to pay the claims Of the
members. He was disposed to allow for
thirty days instead Of thirty-three. deduct
ing Sundays. Finally he gave way.
trough not until resolutions appealing to
the president Of the United State ha / been
placed on passage.
After passing resolutions thanking the
different officials and recognizing the gen.
erous hospitality of the people of Sioux
Falls, the constitution was read by arti-
cies. Judge Corson, chairman of the
committee on phraseology and arrange
ment, said he had carefully compared the
engrossed copy with the original Sioux
| Falls constitution and would vouch for its
his signature, and was followed in order
by seyenty-one other members of the con-
vention. all who were present.
A resolution was passed authorizing the
territorial treasurer to fund into per
cent. bonds s1U7, 1000 of South Dakota's
inherited debt. lhis ended the work of
the convention.
During the evening the citizens of Sioux
Falls gave the members of the convention
q reception, which was largely attended.
A slab of polished jas. er was presented to
President Edgerton by the citizens. The
names of the members of the convention
ore to be engraved upon it, and it is to be
placed IN the state -house of South Dakota
North Dakota
The only business transacted in the af-
J ternoon was the meeting of the senate
commission on irrigation and Exclamation
| of arid lands. The convention was adj
} dressed by Senator Stewart, OF Nevada.
He was followed by Senator Reagan, of
Texas, and Major Powell, of the United
States geological survey. An unpleasant
sensation was occasioned by Delegate
johnson, of Nelson county. During the
! remarks of Senators Reagan and Stewart
on the silver question, they referred to the
war debt. johnson arose at the close of
Reagan's speech and said if he read his
; tory right the senator from Texas was in
JEFF Davis cabinet when the war debt was
being made.
At this point Delegate Purcell arose to
!, inquire whether or not johnson intended
: to insult Senator Reagan.
T. Immediately following this query,
' Matthews, of Grand Forks, moved to
adjourn, which motion prevailed by unani-
nous vote, and the convention adjourned
white johnson was still on his feet.
: 1.-THE committee on PUBLIC institutions on
the 9th reported to the convention, recon-
mending the location of the apital at Bis
7 marck, the state university and school of
mines at Grand Forks, agricultural college
!, at Fargo, state normal school at Valley
City, deaf and dumb asylum at DEVILS
Lake, state reform school at Mandan, an
other state normal school at Nayville,
state hospital for the insane and institu-
ton for feeble minded at jamestown. The
committee also desionates the location of
half dozen other educational and charita-
BILE institutions as fast as they need to be
provided for by the state legislature.