Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-01-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Fighting for Statehood for New Mexico
and Arizona-Looks Favorable.

Auu AFtAVha- LNVh. EaNVA ahA@s
Special Correspondence.
Washington, Jan l2.-The committee
on territories met to.day at II q. m. All
the members, but one, were present. In
cluding Delegates Ferguson, Of New Mex
leo, and Smith, OF Arizona, and with
Chairman Knox, OF Massachusetts,, pre-
siding.
Delegate Ferguson read his report 10
establish the capital for the territory
permanently at Santa Fe, pursuant 10
the instructions Of the committee and in
accordance with his bill for that purpose.
After some remarks by Delegate Fergus
son, explaining the necessity for the bill.
that a large majority Of the people OF the
territory favored Il, there being no objec-
ton. he was authorized 10 report the bill
TO the house with the favorable recon-
mendation OF the committee.
Delegate Smith. OF Arizona, spoke in
favor Of his bill to sanction an act OF the
Arizona Legislature TO authorize the issue
of 100000 in bonds to erect q capitol
building at Phoenix, Arizona, which also
received the approval OF the committee,
and Delegate Smith was sut orlzed 10
prepare q favorable report TO be presented
at the meeting next Wednesday.
Chairman KnoI said he had received
numerous communications relating to
the act OF the New Mexico legislature,
requiring insurance companies TO de
pOsit ten thousand dollars in cash, OF
bonds OF the territory, some county OF
city In order TO do business there.
Delegate Ferguson said he desired TO
be heard when that question was pre-.
scented 10 annul the law and at his re-
quest II IA postponed for two weeks in
order to notify the governor, the attor.
ney general and the speaker Of the last
house and the president OF the council
OF the time when the matter would be
heard
Judge Broderick, OF Kansas. while the
insurance matter IL also up, said the
legislature had undoubted right to legis.
late upon the question.
The question Of q proper government,
and OF a delegate TO be given TO Alaska,
was referred to by Chairman Knox. but
as he stated that the senate committee on
territories was perfecting a bill. the COM
mittee decided 10 wait for the final action
OF that committee, with the request that
they have extra copies OF their report
printed for the 8 OF the house COM
mittee.
Delegate Ferguson then requested the
committee to fix an early date for the
consideration Of the bill TO admit New
Mexico to the sisterhood OF states. He
said that TO the oft. repeated objection
that a large majority OF the people were
foreigners. he denied IL; that two-thirds,
II not three-fourths Of the people were
native born citizens of the territory and
OF this country; that a large part
Of the people had attained their
majority under our flag; that New
Mexico had placed more men In the
Union army than any state In the
Union In proportion TO population.
He said he would be frank with the COM
mittee. IL admitted, he believed they
would send two Teller republicans or two
Bryan democrats to the United States
senate. They would do II sure, but in
Gods name were the people that had been
kept out OF the union for 6fty years to be
kept out another fifty years because OF
their opinion on u ananclal question
No, he said, he believed that the commit
tee would grant the tax ridden, suffering
people justice, regardless Of their views
on politics, finance or religion, all OF
which the constitution guaranteed "a
them. He made a number OF other strong
points and then said he did not wish To
tire the committee before the bill was
even before them. One republican mem.
Der said that he believed In the gold
standard, but he could decide the state
hood bill on Its own merits regardless Of
all other questions. The committee then
decided to consider the New Mexico state
hood bill next Wednesday at 1890 a. m.
Delegate Smith asked that the Arizona
statehood bill follow the New Mexico bill,
which was acceeded TO.
In the course Of his remarks, Delegate
Ferguson referred TO the hundreds Of
thousands Of acres OF land that had re.
yerted 10 the government through the
action Of the court OF private land claims
and said that II New Mexico wa not Il
be admitted rs a state then he would ash
that the lands due them for their educa'
tiOnal and charitable institutions be
given them now. and not kept away from
them for another fifty years till all these
lands he taken up and the government
store the proceeds In Its own Golfers
without the territorial institutions re.
ceiving any benefit thereirom.
Besides the members that spoke Of do.
Ing the territory justice, Mr.. Low. (Rep
New York;, voted for the Catron bill, and
1t is believed that Judge Broderick, OF
Kansas, and several other republicans
will favor the bill, and all the democrats
and Delegates Ferguson and Smith
Chairman Knox, opposed the Catron bill,
So that It looks as though the New Mex,
leo bill may receive just and Favorable
consideration. though the opposition MAJ
show more strength In q final vote Of The
committee than expected. L. NJ. b.
WANTED. FOR SALE AND RENT.