The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-12-21
STATEHOOD BILLS.
How They May Fare in the Sem
 ate.
NOTHING BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
.r,c ObiectIons That Win Be Urged-Ac- tion of the silver Senators-Course of the Republican Ml-
 nOrlty,

 ready considerable interest manifest to know what will be the course of the senate with reference to the territorial hills which are coming from the house. The senate territorial committee has not held a meeting during the present congress, or since the committee was reorranized by the democrats and there has consequently been no formal expression of opinion on the part of members upon the question of the admission of the new states. Inquiry develops the fact that the committee will probably not take up any of the bills for serious con sideration prior to the Christmas holi- days. A committee meeting will in all probability be called for some day next week, and it is possible the matter will be taken up and there will be a general exchange ot opinions among members of the committee, but, as the holidays will be so near then, it is safe to say the entire question will go over to until January.
 The prevailing opinion among mem- bers of the committee is that the com mittee will be found to be generally favorable to the bills for admission, but there are almost sure to be some disagreements on minor points.
 Senator Faulkner, who is chairman of the committee, has been inclined to favor the admission of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona for several years, and the democrats of the senate have generally taken grounds the same way, because, from a party point of view, it is believed their admission will favor the party. There has been some apprehension that the republican sem ators might oppose admission because of party reasons, but an imperfect can vass of the republican members of the committee shows there will be compar- atively little opposition. All the re- publican members of the committee except Senator Platt are western men and inclined to admit the new states from section.
 There has not as yet been bill intro duced for the admission of Oklahoma, but there is no doubt that the senate will pass upon bill for Oklahoma's ad- mission at the same time the other. bills are considered, and it is probable that a bill for Oklahoma's admission will be attached to one or the other bills, prob ably that for the admission of Utah, for the sake of expedition. The republic ans think the chance for republican success would be better in Oklahoma than in any of the proposed states, and may demand this as a concession, which, it is believed, the democratic members of the territorial committee will grant without much quibbling.
 The New Mexico bill will proba ply meet more opposition in committee than any of the others. None of the committee doubts that the population of that territory is sufficient to justify admission if this point alone be con sidered, but they assert the majority of the population is not of kind to make it one of the best states.
 Exception is taken to the fact that most of the residents of New Mexico do not speak the English language, and that Spanish is the prevailing tongue, rendering it necessary to have an interpreter even in the legislature. There will also be revival of the effort to have Utah and Nevada joined as one state, and it is more than prob able that this will prove to be one of the knottiest questions which will pre- sent itself in connection with the Utah admission.
 The argument is made that Nevada's population is not sufficient for state hood and it is also asserted that if the Nevada population should be united with that of Utah. there would be less ground for apprehension that polyg- amy might be revived in Utah under state control.
 The silver question may also cut a figure, and some senators from the eastern states may be inclined to op' pose admission because of the fear oi strengthening the silver party. espe cially in the senate. The admission oi Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Okla homa would result in seating eight new senators, all of whom would probably be silver men It was asserted the president has been considering this point, and fears are already expressed that if the bills pass the senate some O them may be vetoed by him.