The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-12-22
STATEHOOD BILLS.
How They May Fare in the Sep
ate.
NOTHING BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
The Objections That VIII BE Urged-Ac-
tfon of the silver Scnators-Course
of the Republican Mi
nOrity.

WASHINGTON. Dec lS.-lnere Is al
ready considerable interest manifest
to know what will be the course of the
senate with reference to the territorial
bills which are coming from the house.
The senate territorial committee has
not held a meeting during the present
congress, or since the committee was
reorganized 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
proba bility be called for some day next
week. and it is possible the matter will
be taken up and there will be a general
exchange of 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 teen 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. Ali 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 a bill intro
duced for the admission of Oklahoma,
but there is no doubt that the senate
will pass upon a 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
dor
which, it is believed, the democratic
members of the territorial committee
! will grant without much quibbling.
The New Mexico bill will probably
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
figure, and some senators from the
eastern states may be inclined to op-
pose admission because of the fear of
strengthening the silver party. espe-
cially in the nate. The admission of
Utah. Arizona, New Mexico and Okla
homa would result in seating eight new
senators, all of whom would probably
be silver men. 1t was asserted the
president has been considering this
point, and fears are already expressed
that if the bills pass the senate some of
them may be vetoed by him.