Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-01-26
DISCUSSED.
Delegates From the Territories Present
Arguments to House Committee.
FAVORABLE REPORT EXPECTED.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, Jan. 19.-This was the
day set apart TO hear the arguments Of
the delegates from New MAico, Arizona
and Oklahoma before the committee on
territories. for the admission OF those ter
ritories as states on al equal footing with
the other states. II. b. Ferguson. OF
New Mexico, permitted NJ. A. Smith, OF
Arizona, TO make the first argument. ~
he had served several terms In congress.
The arguments Of Delegate Smith we're
also mostly covered by Delegate Fergus
son, 80 those Of che latter are given more
fully; except. some OF the committee.
particularly the chairman, inquired
about the default on interest on bonds In
Arizona. Mr.. Smith said there was no
default, except on some illegal, bogus
bonds issued by Yuma county by compul-
sion TO a railroad company, and there
was only a default In this case because
the sharpers secured the bonds and never
built a mile OF the road as per positive
agreement. There was fraud all through
aud from the beginning, which vitiated
all contracts.
Mr.. Ferguson only had twenty min
utes TO present his considerations for
statehood for New Mexico. He said: IF
we do not obtain the public land now TO
which the schools, public and charitable
institutions are entitled, which all states
have received, then all the land, having
been culled over for afty years; and those
hundreds OF thousands OF acres, lately
opened TO settlement by the court Of pri-
vate land claims, will be taken, and when
the state doee come In II will get nothing
but worthless lands, and therefore will
not enter the Union on an equality with
the other states.
The lands are badly needed now by the
schools. particularly to meet the objec-
tions TO illiteracy, and by the charitable
institutions, which are now supported by
heavy direct taxation OF the people. New
Mexico has the requisite population;
some estimates are as high as 265, 600,
others 10000, which is a low estimate,
while the most conservative place II at
over 100000.
New Mexico has the requisite wealth.
About forty million dollars are returned
for taxation under the most liberal ex-
emption laws, where all having $500 are
exempt.
New Mexico has the legal right 10 ad-
mission In pursuance OF the treaty OF
Guadalupe Hidalgo, which Ia a solemn
treaty compact between the United States
and the republic of Mexico, made fifty
years ago, and Is deliberately violated
every year that New Mexico ia kept out
Of the Union.
New Mexico has the constitutional
right TO statehood, having the requisite
population and wealth, and being willing
and ready to adopt q constitution. repub-
lican In form and acceptable TO congress,
and. as 80 we'll stated by Chief Justice
fancy and ex-President Harrison, there
Is no way under the constitution to
govern q part OF the United States
as a colony, but It must be ad-
mltted TO statehood IA soon as
It has the prerequisites OF population and
wealth and ready 10 prepare a constitu-
ton republican In form.
New Mexico has a right 10 statehood.
That Is, TO say, 1t is a part Of the body
polite and subject TO taxation; and
therefore entitled to representation, and
a vote on the floor OF congress which a
delegate does not have. The fOrefathers
Of the republic rebelled because they
we're taxed without representation. Mr..
Ferguson here made a particularly
strong point, by forcibly stating that the
people OF New Mexico felt Inundated,
and he felt personally Inundated every
day, az members all around him were
voting and he was compelled TO sit silent.
New MexicO's advancement is retarded
by the operation Of such laws as the
alien land law; Though that has been re-
pealedl and other laws, obnoxious and
abhOrent TO the people OF the territory,
not 10 force In states and not enforced
even In the District Of Columbia, where
even binding a. al enactment as II Ii
made to appear that New Mexico is in
capable OF self government, and 1t will
escape from all such discriminating and
unjust and abhOrent laws upon attaining
statehood.
New Mexico, as to its wonderful re
sources, gives promise OF a state Of won,
deriul grandeur. OF the precious metal
1t has gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, an
thracite and bituminOus coal, gypsum
and other minerals and precious stones