Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1889-07-19
CONVENTION DO|NCS.
Work or the Sioux Falls and
Bismarck Constitution
Framers.
Committees Announced by the Presi.
dent of the Bismarck Con-
vention.
Articles for the North Dakota COnstitu-
tiOn Submitted-Joint Committees
at Work.

SIOUX FALLS, 5. d., July 1.-THE
eighth day session of the South Dakota
constitutional convention was marked by
another spirited debate. 1t had been
proposed to memorialiSe the president to
suspend mineral entries upon school
lands near large cities in agricultural
districts until the state is organized and
San defend its rights thereto, in case
such entries are attempted to obtain such
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 equivalent 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 a vote OF 81 to
28. All opposition to the reference Of
every part of the constitution of 1885 to
appropriate committees was withdrawn,
notwithstanding the strong objections of
the day previous, There is no intention
of going outside the strict limitations of
the enabling act. 1t was generally ex-
pected that this matter would result in
a 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 committee for that
CnI frnE
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 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 vitality interested in the matter
of prohibition. The report of the COM
mittee on congressional and legislative
apportionment recommends one repre-
sentative to every 600 votes polled last
year, and one senator to every 800
votes. This will make 120 representa-
tives and 40 senators.
Just before adjournment Boucher in
troduced number of resolutions which
were of a nature of bill Of rights. 1t
provided that the constitution should
grant religious liberation, protection to
person and property, that the people Of
the state should relinquish title to gov
ernment lands and to all Indian reserva-
tions until title should be extinguished,
that property of residents and non-resi-
dents should be equally taxed, that
Indian land unpatented should not be
taxed, that the legislature shall establish
a 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.
Sioux FALLS, s. D., July 12.-This
was the ninth day of the South Dakota
constitutional convention. About three
fourths of the delegates met and ad-
iourned after half-hour session. The
only feature Of the proceedings was the
effort to reconsider the action of the
convention regarding the memorial to
the president asking the withholding Of
patents to claimants who have placed
mineral filings upon school lands in the
agricultural districts adjacent to the
larger towns and cities. The motion to
reconsider was tabled by a vote which
indicated the absence or change of heart
on the part Of quite a number of the op-
ponents Of the memorial. A report was
expected from the committee or legisla-
| ture and judicial apportionment, but
none was made, the committee not being
| ready to report on the judicial apportion-
Ia t,ndarct.Ind n a
ment has been reached by the committee
as to the legislative apportionment
| which provides for one member of the
senate for every 1900 votes, and one
representative for every 500 voters, or
fraction thereof. This will increase the
number of senators from 80, as provided
for at present, to AZ, and the number of
representatives from 98 to 100.
| SIOUX FALLS, July 13.-In convention
to-day thirty delegates met and attended
1 to the formalities of opening their con-
vention. The only feature of business
was the presentation of design forfthe
great seal for the state of South Dakota,
as provided by section of the consti-
tuition. The design was referred to the
proper committee, and the convention
adjourned until Monday.
| The convention as a body will accept
an invitation to attend the waterway
convention at Superior, Wis, on Tues
day. Aug. 6, and the work here will be
arranged so as to be completed at that
time.
Sioux FALLS, July l5.-Only twenty
nine members were present at the days
session. The only business done WAS the
passage of a motion requiring all stand
ing committees to report promptly, 80 that
such portions of the constitution as need
no change, which, OF course, embraces
nearly the whole document, may be ap-
proved and engrossed. The committee
| -, achaH,,la t,oa dacidad tp ranort o mod.