Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1902-03-21
from Armstrong; History
'YANKToN, March 25, 1856

YANKToN, March 25, 1862
The first legislative assembly of Da
kota met at Yankton, on the 18th inst.
and organized by the election of J. H
Shober, president of the council, and
George M. Pinney, speaker of the
house.
Judge Tufts, of the live and enter
prising town of Tuftsville," is chie1
clerk of the council, and J. r. Hanson
of this place, chief clerk of the house
The upper house consists of nine mem
bers, the lower house. thirteen.
This is the first legislature in th'
territory, and the two houses constitute
regular "steer team" each trying t.
turn the yoke on the other. The house
declares the council ''out of order" TO-
sending message when the house is in
session. The council retorts by send
ing a copy of the joint rules to tn
house. The house then retracts ant
sends an apology and vote of thanks tt
the council. Dignified councilmez
chuckle and whisper I'VE have 'en
this time, sure" The next days.
journal reads. ION motion of the coun
Gil, ;" etc., which "motion" is supposed
to take place every morning toward
Rohert'a saloon. a
Waldron of the house, "the man Of
waterfalls appeares on the Journals
as moving that q committee OF three be
appointed to wait upon the honorable
secretary, and request him to furnish
the members with knives. A member
quantity moved to amend SO as to read
''pen knives as he feared that the
secretary might place butcher knives
on the desks of members, as the lower
house was considered the fighting
body" However, the members are all
fast working into the harness, and will
begin to pull through in few days.
Both houses are composed of men OF
fair talent and good attainment, some
of whom have held much higher posi-
tions than those they now occupy.
The governors message was delivered
on Wednesday last before q joint con-
yention of the two houses, and portions
of it referred to the appropriate com.
mi,tees. Three Thousand copies were
ordered printed in the English. French,
German and Norwegian languages, No
copies will be printed for some days,
for want of help, type and paper. The
message opens with truthful descrip'
ton of the resources of the entire terri
tory-dwells at length on her bright
future-recommends to the legislature
the memorializing of congress for ar
appropriation for q Pacific railroad, fol
a geological survey, military highway
from the Big Sioux to Fort Randall
and from Fort Randall to Fort Laramie
and from Red river to the Missouri
| He also recommends the passage OF
territorial homestead law, and an &C
prohibiting slavery in the territory
and the organizing of a thorough ant
liberal school system.
The Red River delegation have arriv
ed, and they appear to be men OF ablllt!
and experience. They performed
part of their northern journey in dog
trains.
Ziebach is here as foreman of tn
public printing. The whole duty i
thrown on his shoulders, with no paper
a few type, a.hand press, man and I
boy to do the territorial printing. M
daily journals are now published, ant
the members are left to retain in thei
memory the proceedings of tn
whole week. This is done that Kan
sas printer, Trask. might be accommo
dated with the job of the territoria
printing, in preference to our >hom'
publishers of the Weekly Dakotan ant
Dakota Republican, who have publish
ed the only two papers in the territor.
for the last year, and who are a
thoroughly versed in the art, and woult
have done the work in style as nea
and cheap as can be done anywhere
Had this been done, the press, type
material and help would have been il
readiness weaks ago, and a weekl!
paper would now be in circulation
among the people, containing the gov
ernor's message and the legislative pro
ceedipps. It does seem that our otfic
ials are determined to distribute thei
patronage among non-residents OF tn
territory, and keep the money out o
the reach Of the people.
The capitol question has not yet bee1
mooted. The members appear to b
willing to let it remain where it is TO
the present.
A bill has passed the lower hous
providing for the payment of The direc
tax of Dakota, by deducting it fror
the $4,000 appropriated to the terr
tory for legislative purposes.
A homestead exemption law ha
passed the council. whereby man ca
have a house and farm, drove
cattle, hogs and sheep, and many othe
Things too numerous to mention a