The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-09-22
THE OATES BILL STILL SAUNDERS.
1t WIN Probably Never Be Resurrected
in the Committee.

1t VIII Probably Never Be Resurrected
in the Committee.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-[special.l THE
bill introduced by Representative Gate
proposing that, instead OF admitting Utah
on its own merits into the union of states,
and providing that the territory be tackled
on to Nevada, is slumbering in the Com
mittee on Territories, and from all that
can be heard it is apt to rest there. for
scarcely any one but the author has yet
been found who is willing to give it seri-
Gus consideration. And even Colonel
Oates, since several gentlemen have talked
with him on the subject, is said to incline
TO the opinion that his plan is not as
feasible as he himself had thought. The
Alabama statesman is generally a very
fairminded man, and no one yields a
point quicker than he when he is con-
WINGED that he is mistaken.
In the first place, the bill has no show
OF being favorably considered by the
House committee, because Gen. Wheeler,
the chairman, has measure of his own,
and there are other members on the
committee who have served for a number
of wears on the same, and they have made
territorial matters a study. They are
committed to the admission of Utan and
the other territories that have for some
years been demanding admission, and
there is every indication that they vii
not have to wait long.
In the second place, the Nevada SEN
ators would never consent to have their
state knocked practically out of existence,
for should such bill as that offered by
Colonel Oates be favorably recommended,
it is quite certain that Nevada would be
lost sight of, and, as southern congress-
man remarked, Senators Stewart and
Jones would soon have to ask, ssWhere
are we at?'' The friends of Utah do not
want the arrangement either. They
think their territory is big enough and
great enough in area, wealth and popu-
lation to be a grand state standing by
itself and having its good old name of
Utah
The bill introduced by Mr.. Rawlins to
enable the people of Utah to form a con-
stitution and state government, and to be
admitted into the Union on an equal
footing with the original states, is q
much more thorough measure than any
of the others. 1t is natural that it should
be, as he is so thoroughly familiar with
the conditions and interests of the terri
tory; and the probabilities are that when
the committee consider all the bills laid
before them the sum and substance of his
bill viii be given the most mature con-
sideration. He Will doubtless be called
into conference, and from ali of the meas
ures referred to the committee it is GER
tain that report will be framed that Will
give general satisfaction.
Mr.. Rawlins has gone carefully over
ali the questions affecting Utah and state
hood, and has prepared a measure likely
to make the work of the committee
lighter.
In the Senate Senator Carey, who has
shown so much interest in the PROPOSE
ton to admit the four territories into the
union, has presented and is pressing en-
ergetically the measure practically that
was offered by him IN the last Congress.
Colonel Thomas Smith, of Virginia
who few days ago was appointed CHIEF
Justice of the supreme court of New Mex
leo, will leave for his post of duty in few
weeks. The appointment came to him
without solicitation on his part Eight
years ago under the first Cleveland adj
ministration he had the endorsement OF
the Virginia delegation for the position
of attorney for the eastern district of Vir-
GINA, and it was supposed that he had
the drop on that place. but when the
delegation went the White house
they were inforr 9d Mr.. Cleveland tbat
he had detc aimed to give this
Office 10 anoth gentlemen for personal
reasons, and was afterwards learned
that the br ther-ln-law of the lucky
Democrat ha5 putin a word, and secured
the appointment. Tho broJher-in- law
was Presbyterian preacher in Albany
and when Cleveland was governor of New
York he attended the preachers church
He then, 10 ease the feelings of Colonel
Tom Smith, appointed him United States
attorney for the territory of New Mexico.
He went out there and made a most ex.
celleut officer. After the Democrats gave
way to the Harrison administration. Col
onel Smith returned to Virginia and q
fmonth ago he was member of the big
Democratic state convention which as
sembled at Richmond. Early in the
spring of the present year he put in an
application for one of the judgeships of
the new court of appeals for the District
of Columbia, but he was told he could
not have that place. He then pulled out
of the race and made up his mind he would
settle down at his old home in Vir-
ginia for the practice of his profession
The president had indicated, though, thai
II it was agreeable to the people of New
Mexico be would be perfectly willing te
give him judicial position out there. and
strange to relate most fiattering request
came from the strong people n New Mex.
leo asking that DO be appointed to the DO.
sition of chief justice of the supreme
court.
Having that strong backing, it is saic
that the appointment will give satisfac.
tion in the territory. but Of course there