The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-07-25
THE TWIN DAKOTAS.
What They Have Been Doing Towards
their TransmOgriflcatiOn into
Sovereign States,
SOUTH DAKOTA.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
WORKING ON TIE CONSTITUTION.


Sioux FALLS S. D.. July 1O.-After the in
PRODUCTION of several resolutions the sixth
day of the constitutional convention proved
to be the most interesting of the session.
Yesterday the standing committees were ap-
pointed, and to-day motion prevailed that
the constitution be read by the title of the ar
ticle and that each article be referred to the
appropriate committee. Thereupon Presi-
dent Edgert on declared that he did not be-
lieve this convention could make any changes
in the constitution of 1885 other than those
specifically mentioned in the omnibus bill,
and that, so believing he would not
refer the articles to the respective
committees. The convention could do SO if
it wished. After u ew articles had been re-
ferred by motions, the president saw that it
was SO apparent to what committees the ar
ticles should go that he yielded for q NOM
ent or two. but when the work had been half
done lie called SpOoner OF kingsbury to the
chair and took the floor. He declared that,
as 1t was not competent for this convention
to make any change in the constitution ex-
cept as provided, he thought the reference
of the constitution was quite unnecessary
and fraught with danger. Congress had
clearly defined the line, and the line should
not be crossed. Caldwell of Minnehaha re-
piled that such interference was necessary in
order hat the convention might be able to
determine what portions could be changed
under the enabling act. JOlley, Davies and
others favored reference, and EdgertOn then
said if the only object was to give the COM
mittees little prominence, and have it un-
derstOOd that no changes were to be made,
he would withdraw his remarks.
A few changes are admitted t o be desirable
but will not be attempted for fear that the
president will not issue his proclamation in
case the constitution ratified in November
oh NJ ut bo ha iGoDti,.ol titntinD
fed in May, with only such changes as are
specified. The clause which limits the state
debt to $500, 600 will have to he changed, as
the debt is already about $7OO,0 900, nearly
One-half Of which has been contracted since
the constitution was adopted in 1886. Judge
Corson's motion not to count the inherited
territorial debt in reckoning the state debt
will prevail. Ifso, the state will be able to
borrow money for any sum less than $780,
900.
REMODELING THE OLD CONSTITUTION.
SIOUX FALLS. S. D., July 11-There was
today continuation of the fight which was
pending in the constitutional convention ad-
journed yesterday, to cut off the possibility
of the adoption of any but specified amend
ments. First, the question of referring the
constitution article by article to the various
committees was determined in the attrma-
tive and the whole instrument was separa-
! p
mittees. Then a motion was made to have
the committees report to thecOnventiOn what
change if any, must be made in order that the
constitution may comply with the provisions
! of the omnibus bill. A substitute
was offered for this proposition
directing the several committees to proceed
to the discharge of their duties and report
to the convention only such changes and
amendments to the constitution as in their
! Judgment are divided by. or are
necessary, in order to comply with the pro-
! visions of the enabling act known as the
omnibus bill. Both propositions were de-
| eated. From this it is evident that al
! though the convention recognizes the fact
| that it can only make a limited number OF
amendments with any degree of safety, it
will not permit its committees to be muZZed
| There was u great deal of talk during the
debate about the wisdom OF the commit
tees" proceeding in order and making
any amount OF changes if necessary. 4
committee reported several hundred typo
graphical, clerical and other minor errors ir
the constitution. and they we're referred tc
the committee on phraseology and arrange
ment of the constitution.
THE APPoRTIoHMENT.
Sioux FALLS, July 12.- The committee
orSlegislative apportionment agreed to the
proposition of having 120 representative
haha county two senator's and six represen
tatives. A petition has been received from
residents of the northern part of the county
asking that the county be divided into two
legislative districts. AS Sioux Falls contains
more than half the population of the entire
county, the objects of the petitioners is to
have one senator and perhaps three rep
resent tatives independent of the influence o
Sioux Falls. The committee will give full
| hearing to all parties before reporting, and
the matter will after all probably be fought
out in the convention.
SATURDAYS WORK.
Sioux FALLS. July 13.-All members OF
| the constitutional convention who live with
| in half days journey have gone home fol
| Sunday, and the convention to-day did moth,
ing. Committees, however, are at work, and
by the middle Of the week several important
reports will be made. The committee on
considering petition from the Farmers al,
! lance which is Il very strong body in Dako.
ia, to adopt the Australian ballot system,
and also memOrialfr from the Methodist con,
! ference to have the election for state officers
and the ratification of the constitution al
different times and to prevent colonization
of voters. This is in the interest of the adop
tion of the prohibition clause. The COM
mittee, however, seems disposed to let the
general election laws of the territory govern
excepting, perhaps, to provide etOrresignatiOT
in towns OF 500 votes and upwards The
plan of having forty-twO senators and 12O
representatives is criticized, but such
apportionment seemed to cause less division
or aggregation of counties than any othel
plan proposed, and the committee will so re
port, The only other feature ofbusness was
the representation of n design for the grea
seal for the State of South Dakota, as pro
vided by the constitution The design wal
referred to the proper committee and the
4
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Sioux FALLS, July 15.-The constitutions
convention met to-day, with twenty -nin'
members present. The only business done
was the passage of motion requiring oil
standing committees to report promptly, sc
that such portions of the constitution al
need no change, which, OF course, embraces
nearly the whole document, may be ap
proved and engrossed. The committee OIL
schedule has decided to report modification
of the Australian ballot systems for gov
ernment of elections Oct..1, on ratification
| of constitution and choice of state officer
and legislature. Fully two-thirds OF the del
egates are prohibitionists, who would gladl,
make prohibition part of the constitution
were it not that the omnibus bill provides
for submitting separate clauses on prohibi
tion and minority representation.
NEARLY THROUGH.
Sioux FALLS, July 16.-Sixty delegate
we're present at the opening of to-day's ses
sion Of the convention. 1t was expected tina
the work of q number of the standing com
mittees would be ready, but with the excep
tion of two reports and resolution relatin,
to the dispatch of business nothing was pre-
sented Westcott, of Deuel., the chairman
of the legislative and administration com
mittee aud Bouoker of Mcpherson, chair
man of the COMMITTEES on amendments ant
revision of constitution, reported that th
articles referred to their committees respect
lively needed no change.
The reports were made special order for to
morrow. The judiciary committee has no
yet completed it's work, but has decided t,
increase the number of judicial districts
Dakota has suffered much from delay il
court business, and while some oppose pay
ing too many salaries, the feeling prevail
that the number of judges must beincreased
There is manifest disposition on-the part Q