Arizona republican., 1894-08-21
GOVERNOR HUGHES RETURN
He Describes the Status of the
Statehood Bill.
Other Important and Beneficial
Legislation Affecting
Arizona,

Governor Hughes returned yester-
day from the east, whittier he went
nearly two months ago as a representa-
tive of the Arizona press to the Ma
tional Press association at Asbury
Park, N. j. After the adjournment of
the association he went to Washington
and remained there pending certain
important legislation affecting Arizona.
The statehood bill as the most inn
portant one to the territory enlisted
his most earnest intention. The bill
was then in the hands of the sub-com-
mittee which had partially decided to
recommend favorable report. There
was disposition however to amend the
bill or to substitute a senate bill pro-
viding for admission under an enabling
act.
The governor saw the mem bers of the
senate committee frequently and
favorable report was made and the bill
placed on the calendar. 1t was impos-
sible to induce the senate to do more.
The attention of that body was en-
crossed with the tariff and appropria-
ton bills and too great or iniudicious
insistence in the matter of the admis-
sion bill would easily have been disad-
vantageous. In his work in the interest
OF the bill before the committees report
the governor was guided by the advice
OF Delegate Joseph of New Mexico, who
believed that the course which both the
New Mexico and Arizona bills have
taken is the shortest way to statehood.
"A hi Of ha fov
tiLude of senators to Arizona. They
are inclined though to favor the amend
ment of the bill by an enabling &C; THE
ten Repu bllcan senators in favor of
statehood will not support the bill with
out the amendments. The matter is
now in shape to come up in the short
session and the governor entertains no
doubt of its passage and predicts state
hood within year.
The funding bill was called up soon
after its arrival and became a law and
other measures affecting the territory
were favorably disposed of. A report
will be made shortly on the proposal to
throw open the coal lands on San Car
los reservation. This object will be Sc
cured, no doubt, at the coming session
on recommendation from the secretary
of the interior who may advise either of
two ways of bringing it about; the ap-
polntmenJ of committe to make a
treaty with the Indians, or by segrega-
ton OF the lands.
The Navajo trouble is also in a fair
way for early adjustment. The trouble
arises from disposition of the Indians
to leave the reservation with their
md ar1o 70 tniy
of the adjacent ranges already in occu-
patton by the whites. Though some of
the Indians claim the right to leave the
reservation by reason OF having taken
up government lands IN seyeralty, the
bulk of the Indians who have left have
done so on account of shortage of
water at home. The interior depart
ment will apply 100000 to the develop
ment of water on the reservation and
such other remedies as may be required
will likely be adopted at the next ses-
sion.
The governor found the feeling to-
ward Arizona favorable throughout the
east. 1t took the form of friendly in
terest by capitalists in the territory's
resources, more particularly gold mines
and irrigation possibilities. He met
capitalists at Pitts burg who are already
interested in an enterprise in the valley
and who will, about Septemb Der Is,
send a representative here to study the
situation with view to the expendi-
ture of about $250,000 in its develop
ment.
Altogether the governor is convinced
that Arizona stock is looking up"