Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-12-28
STATEHOOD ASSUKEO
New Mexlco's Loyalty 10 the Republican
Party Will Bring a Just Reward.
DELICATE rrRrA IMPRESSED THIN.

Hon. T.. z. Catron. intery ewed by a
New Mexican representative, said. re-
garding Mr.. Perea's standing in Wash
inRtOn and the possibility OF statehood;
"Mr. Perea met me In Washington.
and he became well acquainted with the
various members OF congress. both In the
senate and house. He made a good i'm
preston. and will enter on his duties
better equipped for sctiye work than any
previous delegate.
I'VE found that Mr.. Ferguson had no
statehood bill pending 10 congress. Il Is
true that he once had one. but when he
desired 10 secure the passage OF an act
donating lands for educational and other
purposes, he seemed to think II necessary
to dispose Of the statehood bill drst, 20 he
had it called up before the committee
aud secured action on IL, with the idea
that the statehood bill stood In the way
OF public land donations. As a natural
result. the statehood hill was laid on the
table by the committee. This action left
statehood In an unfayorable condition,
Tor there ia a practice In the house which
also prevails In the committed that when
a bill 10 once disposed Of, Il cannot again
be acted on during the session.
During the last session, there were a
number OF republicans on the committee
who did not believe that any new states
should be admitted. They have very
materially changed their opinions since
the last election aud are decidedly more
favorable to statehood than they were a
year ago. The same Is true in the whole
house OF representatives. In fact, there
seems to be a very general change rela.
tive to the admission Of New Mexico and
Oklahoma, aud the senators and con
gre8smen are thoroughly posted on the
fact that New Mexico will be a republi.
eau state, pledged 10 protective tariff aud
and sound money. The last election in
New Mexico has been thoroughly can
yassod and Investigated by all Of the
members. While they say that owing to
the great press Of business II will be
practically impossible to act on state
hood bills at this short session, they as
sure us that at the next session there will
be but little doubt about the admission
Of New Mexico. Bills for admission
were introduced by Representative BrOd-
erick, Of Kansas, In the house, and by
senator Rlkins, OF Virginia, in the sen
ate. The bills contain practically the
same provision IA the bill introduced by
myself In Fifty-tourth congress, elm
mating from them, however, the lands
which have been donated for educational
purposes, and providing that titles TO the
lands coded TO the state, be passed free
Of land office charges, and that indemnity
shall apply TO all reservations "a well as
lands disposed Of otherwise TO the gov
eminent.
81 think II quite probable that both
bills will be reported on fsyorably, but
do not think II possible that they can be
acted upon by either the senate or the
house during this short session. for the
reason that every effort Is being made
10 pass the general appropriation bills,
which, II is claimed, will occupy nearly
ali the time from now until March 4. A
bill for the reorganization OF the army
and another for making a territorial gov
eminent of Hawaii will consume cOnsid'
cradle time, and it Is thought that the
senate will attempt to ratify the Span
ish. American peace treaty during the
session. IL IL probable that no time will
be left for considering the admission OF a
new state.
"The status OF New Mexico in Wash
ingtOn Is better to-day than II has been
since the territory was acquired by the
United States. / think that the pros
poets OF admission during the next con-
gress are better than they have ever
been, and | do not believe that we will be
forced TO wait longer that the next ses-
sion"