The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-08
Mr.. FB.RBANE' ) Bill.
What 1t Provides in the Mat
ter of Oklahoma Statehood
EXPLAINS 1T HIMSELF
Congress Nav Admit Indian
Territory at Will

Guthrie. o. T.. Dec. The aF.rbanlzs
bin to confer statehood upon Oklahoma,
which was introduced in the United
States senate Tuesday and referred TO
the committee en- territories, provides a
comprehensive plan for the admission Of
the territory and for its representation
by two members Of the house and two
United States senators until provision is
made for their election. The usual pro-
visions are made in the bill for the ad-
mission Of territories 10 statehood out
there are features which viii be peculiar
90 the conditions in Oklahoma One Of
these provisions is that when the con
stituUoual convention meets it shan de-
clare that congress may admit Indian
territory at its discretion to statehood as
"a part Of Oklahoma. This provision is
made to meet the objections which have
been urged hitherto against the admis-
sion of Oklahoma and Indian territory as
separate states. 1t also obviatas the
admis ion 0ltwo states 10 the lniou, and
the resultant increase in the representa-
tion i'm congress.
NO reference is made fin the blu to The
Indian question. and by it's terms an
rights and privileges which are accorded
To- other states are provided for Oklaho-
ma Tt provides that a constitutional
convention shall be held to prepare leg
lslati0n for submission to the people OF
the territory. This constitutional con
voution shan contain 100 members. The
governor. chief justice and secretary Of
state shall constitute a commission 10
make au apn7ruonment Of the reDresen-
tadm in ta-s constitutional convention
10 proportion to the population of tne
counties After this apportionment is
made the governor shall issue a proc,a-
nation for an election which is to be
held on the first Tuesday. after the sec
ond Monday in May, 1901 The conven-
ton WIN meet at Guthrie on July a.
II discussing his bil Senator Fairbanks
Is reported in the dispatches from Wash-
lngton as stating his intention to see the
chairman and members of the COMMITTEES
on territories and urge speedy and favor
able consideration of his measure.
The senator is reported as saying re-
latlve to the bill. "The position, natural
resources and ever increasing commercial
resources and the territory, entities it TO
statehood. The population Of the ter
ritory, according to the ceusus recently
completed is close TO 100000 people. and
obey are hearty, Industrious settlers, who
have buuded themselves homes and
created cities I'm a remarkably short time.
Many Of the territories which We're adj
mtted to the union did not possess many
of the qualifications which Oklahoma has
for statehood"
The senator pointed out that the plat
form Of the Republican party have twice
declared in favor OF the admission Of the
territory to statehood and also that mills.
factories. banks and big grazing and ag-
ricultural enterprises have developed I'm
the territory In the past few years. which
placed 10 on q par with some of the
states of the union In the way of com
mercial and industrial importance
The Washington dispatches state that
while it IS possible that the bill viii not
become n law at the present session, it
win probably be favorably reported from
the committee 10 the senate and be
much better shape at the beginning Of
the next congress than # would If the
matter was allowed 10 wait untE that
congress meets. One of the most prom
inent members Of she committee on ter
ritories is Senator Carter. who IS known
TO favor the admission Of the territory
md whose attitude win carry weight
with his colleagues In the senate.