The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-02-08
eUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Editor Butte MINER:

Editor Butte MINER:
1t is not likely that any of the territories
will be elevated to states this session, though
the spolitical necessity is as urgent now as
it will perhaps be ate any other
time. For after March 4th, the house will be
Republican by one majority, and the senate a
tie, or, perhaps, one majority. The admis-
sion of a territory practically opens the
mouth Of a delegate; for the delegate is a
congressman by brevet only. He has very
little to do and nothing to say, except about
something which particularly interests hi
territory or other territories. When he takes
ahand in the discussion otherwise, it. is con-
sidered presuinptuous on his part to speak.
So he has very little to say, and not much
ola chance to distinguish himself as an ora
tor or parliamentarian Neither is his posi-
ton a profitable one. He has no vote, con-
sequently he is not courted to any alarming
extent by the other members, the 'invisible
lobby p or even by feminine pla%ce-hunters.
And there is no future or prerequisites for him
nothing but his salary. During political dis
cussions he must sit there like a poor boy at
a cash auction, and can only speak when
spoken to, while the other members probably
less gifted can, whenever the evil spirit moves
them, berate the ulof1end ng house at length
on the beauties of the ''broad phylactery of
our constitution al rights" and the poor dele
gate must sit there like a school boy and take
it all. But al, this will soon be changed by
the admission of the territories, which ques-
ton will be one of the greatest political i'm
portance during the incoming administration
Each state has two senators and at least one
representative. Then the delegate would be
converted into a full-fledged member with
the right to vote, and speak whenever he
wanted TO-. The two senators would change
the political complexion of the senate one
way or the other, that is, if any territory is
admitted before March, 1883. Therefore the
territories will cut an important figure in
politics within the next few years. But it
will not be political necessity" alone which
will ertitle them to admission, but this party
exigeucy will hurry it up. About the time
the agitation of this matter commences, the
exodus OF ambitious politicians and WORKOUT
statesmen will turn their double faces west
ward. Indeed, it has already commenced.
HOW Many IT TAKES.
Many who do not take much interest in
territorial matters, are under the erroneous
belief that a territory must contain a certain
population before it can be admitted as a
49, NJ ,a,a@;kts1n III tho T-DstaI Nf,to,
is silen. on the question. Congress can ex-
rlude a territory with a half a million inhabi-
tants, or admit one with a few hundred. A
man can go out and found "a territory by him
self, and if he can show good and valid rea-
sons why he and it should be admitted, there
is no power in the land to prevent congress
from making a state of his colony. In 1864
the bailiwick of Nevada was admitted as a
s!war measure 1t contained a population,
mostly TRANSIENT, of less than 100000
little more than half the present population
of Montana. Yet Utah, with a present popu.
lotion of LA, 900, larger than that CT any
other territory, is left out. She must be vir-
tuous before she can become a happy state.
She may increase and multiply her popula
ton until the millennium comes, but no mat
ter what her population may be, her knocking
will be in vain.
A CHEME
In order to make a clean sweep of the ter.
ritorial business and to settle the Utah ques-
ton, a bill is in process of construction, and
/ will soon be introduced in the house by Gen
King, of Louisiana, providing for the discs,
tablishment of four of the territories and the
admission of the other four as states.
This would give them all such an area OF ter.
ritory and population that congress could not
reasonably refuse to admit them. The Office.
holders Of the our territories to be disestab.
lished would lift up their voices as one cry.
ing in the wilderness, while others would eX'
halt theirs in joy at the increase of power and
grandeur of the new states. The bill
abolishes Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho ant
Dakota, and also would play havoc witt
Judge Benefits little hill dividing that terri
tory. The four remaining territories would
be Montana, Utah, New Mexico ant
Washington. 1t gives all of Arizona
including the Apaches, to New Mexico.
All that portion Of Wyoming south of the
43d parallel, is transferred to Colorado al
that portion of Wyoming west of the Sierri
Meradas, is given 10 Utah and the northern
portion of Wyoming goes to Montana, which
of course syour people would accept will
thanks. This obliberates Wyoming.
Washington territory takes all that portion
of Idaho north of the 10th parallel; Oregon
gobbles all south of the 10th parallel an,
Utah takes all east of the Hath parallel. Thi
settles Idaho in short order.
Then the little territory of Dakota, which i
ambitious to divide itself and become a stat
and territory, is swallowed up on equitabl
terms hv Montana. Minnesota and Nebraska