Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-07-25
STATEHOOD AFFAIRS.
Hon. T, B, Catron Returns from Wash
ington and Talks of the
Status Of the Bill
Its Passage Certain in December
The Cause of Delay-The Amend
ments-MalIciOus Letters.

ments-MaliciOus Letters.
Hon. T. B. Catron returned last night
from Washington City, where he has
been for three weeks past striving for
New Mexico's advancement by working
for the passage of the statehood bill in
congress.
"The state business is in good fix, ,"
said Mr.. Catron. 1.-The bill providing for
an enabling act has been amended so as
to make it practically self-operating, and
it was favorably reported to the senate on
Thursday last with the recommendation
that it be called up for passage early
in December next. Senator Carey, of
Wyoming, who is in charge of the meas
ure, says that the bill will certainly pass
in December"
THE AMENDMENTS.
A number of amendments were made
in the house bill of the senate committee
on territories. Among them was one cut.
ting down the public land donations to
the new state, and this one Mr. Catron
opposed with all his energy. 1t cuts down
the lands for educational purposes to the
same quantity given the new northwest
states, providing only for donating sec.
tons IL and 80 for common school pur-
poses. Mr.. Catron pointed out the I'M
fairness of this called attention to the
character of the land as compared with
that in most OF the new states and showed
how the repeal OF the pre-em ption land
law would serve to cut New Mexico out
OF the 5 per cent OF the proceeds from
public land sales, which act the other
states had long had advantage of but his
argument Was to no purpose, many 9th
senators from the new northwest states
refusingto support the bill as long as it
vested New Mexico with special
privileges respecting these donations Of
land.
The other amendments by the senate
committee refer to the time of holding
the elections. The election Of delegates
to the state constitutional convention will
take place forty days after the passage of
bill, and the convention will be held
thirty DAYS later. The convention itself
is authorized to fix the time for voting on
the constitution and for eecting state off
GERS, ard these two events may occur at
the same date or on separate dates, as the
convention deems best.
MALICIOUS LETTERS.
ave had great difficulty in getting the
committees together" said Mr.. Catron
"Members of the committees we're loaded
down with letters from parties in New
Mexico who seemed to have an interest in
opposing statehood and keeping up the
present territorial form of government.
These letters were maiciously written,
but they had no real effect except to delay
action till next season. They served to
change nobody's opinions, but gave n
pretext merely for delay.
SIT was most unfortunate that the
house go long hung up the bill. sending it
to the senate
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
"Senator Carey said this was the chief
difficulty, as in the closing hours of the SEN
ate, when the appropriation bills had to
have attention, it was impossible to give
due attention to matters such as this.
Some members opposed bringing up the
bill at this time simply because it would
cause delay and postpone final adjourn
ment. Some had threatened, in case the
bill came up, to talk it to death, thus
consuming the valuable time of the SEN
ate at vital jnncture, and this threat
made the real friends of the measure
hesitate about pushing it to final vote.
Among the latter were Senators Allison
and Plat. Senator Allison, who is chair
man of the committee on appropriations,
requested Senator Carey not to push the
bill this session, saying he
WAS FRIENDLY TO IT
and would heartily support Its passage in
December, but that now it would interfere
with the consideration OF the appropria-
ton bills, and its enemies would take
advantage of the opportunity TO hurry it
out Of the way and shelve it. Senator
Platt said that if the bill was forced at
this session he would have to make a
minority report against it, but that he
would favor final action early in the win.
ter session. Thus it became apparent that
many would oppose the bill at this late
day in the present session who favored
its passage in December next, and it was
therefore deemed prudent to simply have
the measure reported favoraby and let it
lay till next session.
"The bill will have to go back to the
house, but not the least difficulty is anti
cipated there. That branch of con-
gress is committed to its pas
sage, and there is no conflict
as to the amendments made by the SEN
ate committee. In both branches OF con-
gress most all the Democrats and con-
siderably more than majority Of the
Republicans are favorable to New Mex
ico's admission. What
LITTLE OPPOSITION
there is comes from the lar east That
section is afraid OF losing its influence and
power in congress, afraid also that New
Mexico will send delegation to represent
it there that is favorable to silver, and
there seems to be some doubt as to what
might be the politics of the new state.
The general impression, however, is that
the bill will be favorably acted upon ea'ly
in December"