The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-07-25
THE TWIN DAKOTAS.
What They Have Been Doing Towards
their Transmogriflcation into
Goyerign States.
WORKING ON THE CONSTITUTION.
SOUTH DAKori

WORKING ON THE CONSTITUTION.
Sioux FALLS s.. D.. July 10.-After the in
PRODUCTION of several resolutions the sixth
day Of the constitutional convention proved
be the most interesting Of the session.
Yesterday the standing committees we're ap-
pointed, and to-day q 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 Edgerton declared that he did not be-
lieye this convention could make any changes
in the constitution of 1885 other than those
and that, so believing, he would not
refer the articles to the respective
committees. The convention could do SO if
it wished. After q few 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
emit or two. but when the work had been half
chair and took fine. floor. He declared that,
as it was not competent for this convention
to make any change in the constitution ex-
cept rs 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-
khkl0u UuttU BULL 1lCtFl6TcuCc WHH H6CcSbury III
order that the con ventiOn might be able to
determine what portions could, be changed
under the enabling act. Jolley, Davies and
o~thersfavored reference, and Edgerton then
said if the, only object was to give the com
mittees- Q little prominence, and have 1t un-
derstood that no changes were to be made,
he would withdraw his remarks. & r,3 d.,
A few changes are admitted to be desirable
but will'not be attempted for fear that. the
president will not issue his proclamation in
case the constitution ratified in November
should not be the identical constitution rati-
fed in May, with only such changes as are
specified. The clause which limits the state
debt to $500, 600 will have to be changed, as
the Debt, is already about SOC, 900, nearly
one-half Of which has been contracted since
demonstration was adopted in 1886. Judge
Corson's motion not to count the inherited
territorial debt in reckoning the state debt
will prevail. ESQ, the stata will be able to
borrow money for any sum lesss than $780,
900. y Tf.~" '':iF 81 = -. $780,
REMoDELrNG THE L CONSTITUTION.
Sioux FALLS, SD, July 11.-There was
today a continuation of the fight which was
pending in the constitutional convention I'D
tourned yesterday, to cut off the possibility
of tho adoption of any but specified amend
ments. First, the question of referring the
constitution article by article to the various
COululIUtOS6 WE uClSEluIuOu IL ING dulTU1d-
tive and the whole instrument was .separa-
ted and divided between the 80 standing COM
Then q motion was made to have
the committees reportt to ~theconvention what
change, ifany must be made norder that the
constitution may comply with the provisions
of the omnibus biH.%s2A substitute;
was offered for this, d. proposition
directing the several committees to proceed
to the discharge. of their duties and report
to the convention only such changes and
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-
From this it is evident that al
though the convention recognizes the fact
that it can only make q limited number of
amendments with any degree of safety, it
will not permit it's committees to be muzzled.
was a 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" A
committee reported several hundred typo
graphical, clerical and other minor errors in
the constitution, and they were referred to
ment of the constitution. 49, 1T. s~,,
THE APPoRrIoNMENT. 7s
Sioux FALLS, July a. The committee
on legislative apportionment agreed to the
Of having 100 representatives
and forty senator's. This would give Mime
county two senator's n six represen-
"A petition has been received from
of the northern part of the county
that the county be divided into two
legislative districts. As Sioux Falls contains
more than half the population of the entire
the objects Of the petitioners is to
have one senator and perhaps three rep
independent of the influence of
Sioux Falls. The committee will give full
to all parties before reporting, and
the matter will after oil probably be fought
out in the convention.
1-4 <a.:., SATURDAYS r
4 Sioux FALLS. July 13.-All. members of
the constitutional convention who live with
in q half days journey have gone home for
Sunday, and the convention to-daydid moth
ing, Committees, however, are at work, and
blythe middle Of the week several important
will be made. The committee on
o petition. from the Farmers al.
which is a very strong body in Dako-
and also q memorial from the Methodist con-
to have the election for state officers
and the. ratification of the constitution at
different times, and to prevent colonization
of voters. This is in the interest of the adop-S
ton Of the prohibition clause. The com
however. seems disposed to let the
general election laws of the territory govern,
excepting, perhaps, to provide for resignation.
in towns of 500 votes and upwards. The
plan of having forty-two senator's and 1870
representatives is criticized, but such.
seemed to cause less division
Or aggregation Of counties than any other
plan proposed, and the committee will SO re-
port. The only oth~erfeature 81 business was !
The representation Of "A design for the great
seal Tor the State Of South Dakota. as pro-
vided by the constitution. The design was
to the proper COMMITTEES and the
adjourned till Monday. ss g..
40 f@> REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. e.s2.43 b
Sioux FALLs, July 15.-The constitutional
met to-day, with t~wenty-nina
members present. The only business done
committees, to report promptly, so
such portions Of the constitution as
need no change, which, ct course, embraces
nearly the whole document, may be ap-
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