St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-11
BUSINESS AND LOTS OF 1T.
Constitution Patchers Are Hump
ing Themselves at Sioux Falls.

ing Themselves at Sioux Falls.
Special to the Globe.
SIOUX FALLS, Oak, July 10.--The
constitution patchers are at last getting
in shape to do something. The commit
tees are all appointed and most of them
are busy are reading the constitution
with microscopes to detect articles
which may conflict with the omnibus
bill. or which need revision and are
eligible to such change under the bill.
Each committee has a nice question to
be decided as to the limitations of its
power of revision, and many stormy
scenes are likely to disturb the peace of
the convention when these reports begin
to come in. The committee on judiciary
is examining the omnibus bill to find
whether it leaves authority to report in
favor of increasing the number of judi
cial districts. 1t is understood that ma
jority of the committee believe that the
article in the bill which speaks of reap
portionment can be construed to admit
their report. If this Interpretation of
the meaning of the omnibus act prevails
the committee will report in favor of
changing the number of districts from
six to ten. The increase in population
lids COIlNluCCu all UlldU OH ulOlllCto dlC
not enough, and that justice will be
ten. At tO-day'S session the question
was brought up as to what right the
convention had to parcel out various
articles of constitution to special COM
mittees. Many held that the act re-
ferring the various subjects to commit
tees implied on its face the right to re-
port changes of the committee so
elected, and that when the con-
vention acted on the reports of
these committees it virtually con-
sidered the question of making a
new or adopting the old constitution,
all of which violated the limitations laid
down by the enabling act. Others held
it was not necessary to examine these
articles, to see if they were in fact part
of the Sioux Falls constitution, to find
out whether they contained provisions
conflicting with the enabling act, and to
ascertain whether the desired changes
could be made without violating the
provisions of the bill. They denied that
the appointment of such committees
report unfavOrably. Discussion on this
question was by far the most spirited
yet heard in the convention, being par
ticipated in by President Edgerton,
Caldwell, Jolley, Hale, Seit and others.
Edgerton counseled conservatism in
making changes 1t was finally
decided to lay the question over
till tomorrow to give the members
a chance to study and 81 eep over it. Dr..
S. Power. of KingSbury, offered reSo-
luton memorializing congress to APP
point a commission to make complete
geological survey of South Dakota. in
Guiding the meteorological formations of
the Black Hills and the artesian basin
of the state: and that committee in
Structed to prepare such memorial be
authorized to call for proper papers and
persons for statistics. Sterling offered
a resolution relative to the leasing of
school lands for pasturage, meadow and
farming purposes, as authorized by the
omnibus bill, but contrary to the conSti-
tuition. Price offered resolution MAX
ing an age limitation for members of the
state assembly. The constitution was
read, article by article, and referred to
the proper committees, the preamble
being referred to Clough, who offered
a resolution providing for the election
of auditors in counties where none now
exist at the next election. In conform
ity with a rule adopted to-day, all reSo-
lutions were referred to the proper COM
mittees without discussion, to be re-
ported on at future time. No word
has yet been received from the North
Dakota convention, and general resent
ment is felt at their shabby treatment.
Caldwell says that the commission will
start in the morning for Bismarck
whether word is received tonight or
not.