Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-09
BUILDING TWO STATES.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE cOSsr1r,,-
TIcNAL COSVESTIONS IN DAEOrA.
Progress rs Made From Day to Day in Roth
ssc1'o"s-""rk of the Join. Committee
OH DIVISION ofProperty-side Notes.
Soutl, Dakota

There was full attendance at
the session OF tie convention on the 25th
and the report of the committee on lepis-
lative apportionment was made the suecial
order. 1t was adopte without discussion.
The committee amended the Sioux Falls
constitution so as to make the lands
granted for school purposes embrace the
$4,000 acres granted for the state capitol
fund, and tying up said grant 80 it cou,d
only be subject to the same restrictions
as we're place upon the sale of school
lands. II was contended that this con-
vention has no right. under tie omnibus
bill. to SO amend the cons tuition. and
further, that granting the right, it would
be injurious action to place any limitation
upon the disposal of this grant, which
was clearly made for the purpose of pro-
viding state capitol. In this view the
convention concurred by so amending the
report as to make it conform to the Sioux
Falls constitution.
The main feature OF the conventions
proc= edlngs on the 26th was the considera-
ton OF the report If the committee of
schedule and ordinance. few days ago
aresolution was referred to the judiciary
committee asking its opinion as the power
| Of the convention to provide for the cleo
tion of clerk of the circuit court at the
October election. no such provision seem
| i1g to be made by the omnibus bill. The
| Committee reported that in their judgment
the convention had such power. The
amendment was defeated and therefore
after the election of the circuit Judges in
October, the succeeding territorial judges
and clerks of court, heretofore appointed
by territorial judges will vacate their offices
and the vacancy will be filed by the sever
nj boards OF county commissioners.
Another amendment to the schedule was
proposed, providing for modified form
of the Australian system. Here again the
question of the powers of the convention
arises. The matter was under discussion
when the convention adjourned.
| The debate on the ballot reform or Aus
tralian system, gave an opportunity for
speech making, which was evidently en- :
joyed. At the evening session the debate
wa, resumed hotter than ever. 1t grew in
intensity and velocity until near IL Q clock.
Finally Judge Carson, of Deadwood,
spoke. Clearly and slowly he told the
convention that while it has undoubtedly
desirable to have every protection thrown
aroundEhe ballot box, the passage of this
piece OF legislation was, to say the least,
of doubtful expediency. and this conven-
ton real W could not afford to take the
chancesPf having the work destroyed for
the sakdof an experiment in ballot reform.
| The vtte stood "a to 81, which shows
how evelly the convention was divided.
The votl by no means represents the SEN
timent j favor of the system, but the
inexpedfncy of it's adoption by the con-
vention1 Were the convention a law
makingbod it would go through with q
rush.
Ado3n delegates met and adjourned
ON the fifth. When the convention ad-
journed| the night before its work was
Of the Omission and adoption Of the a re-.
port Of be joint commission now at Bis
marck. Not more than two or three days
time vii be requi'ed TO conclude the work
Of the convention.