Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-12-24
HON. B. s. R0DEY
RETURNS.
He Found the Sentiment in Wash
ington in Favor Of Statehood for
New Mexico.
The ALEXANDER EPISODE.
Governor Otero Did Good Work for the Ter
ritory at Washington q. s. At
torneyship- for Re-
claiming Arid Lands,

Hon. b. >. ROuey mas relufIleu lioillc
to Albuquerque from trip to the no.
tional capital.
The energetic delegate-elect directed
his first efforts toward securing the
passage through the senate of the bill
for the confirmation of the Albuquerque
land grant which had passed the house
during the last session. Mr.. Rodey
spoke personally to the members OF the
committee on public lands, consulted
Commissioner Hermann, and spoke III
advocacy Of the bill before the commit
tee. The result was that the bill was ia
vora bly, reported by the committee, ana
will certainly be~ffsssed durins the
present session.
Mr.. Rodey says he found the seitl'
ment of congress very much in tavo" OF
admitting the three most importan; te:-
ritories to statehood. The rush CT busI-
ness during the present short session
precludes the possibility of the intro
duction of statehood Legislation THIS
winter, but New Mexicos next appllca-
| ton is bound to be successful. Govern
or Otero and Governor Murphy nave
done yeoman service in the good cause
The gentleman also found quite de-
cided sentiment in favor of the appro .
| oriation of some of the money lor the
re olamation of arid lands in the west
to the territories. This money has thus
far been unfairly given to the states
alone. AS to the bill recently recon-
mended in committee providing for the
building of the international dam at Ell
Paso and the curtailing of New MeHl-
co.'s rights to the use of the waters Oh
her streams, Mr. Rodey says D Jegate
Perea will have his hands full to keep
the measure from passing, and II 1t pe-
comes law, and the law becomes ef-
fectiye, good-by to agriculture in New
Mexico. Dr.. Nathan e. Boyd, who is
promoting the construction of tue lale-
phant Butte dam, has establishe ! res
idence in Washington for the express
purpose of being in position to hasten
the close of the litigation which Is de-
laying his company. The Santa Re rail
way company, which is ready to fill the
Mesilla valley with desirable colonists
as soon as the dam becomes assured. Is
assisting in the good work in every way
possible.
Mr.. Rodey paid his respects to Presl'
dent Mckinley, and was very cordially
received. He met many of the mem
bers of both houses, and everywhere
heard the greatest interest expressed
concerning New Mexico. Regarding th'
United States attorneyship foH New
Mexico, Mr.. Rodey said the appoint
I ment would probably not be made I'll
late in the session, as the attorney gen
eral was up to his eyes preparing 10
the defense of the administrator for
eign policy. Several of the candidate
have withdrawn, and the fight has mar
rowed down to three candidates. will
almost equal chances.
Mr.. Rodey attended to a number 0
minor matters with the departments
He made a special effort to secure IN
promotion of Railway Mail Clerk Gp
to be postoffice inspector. He found tina
, | by an unWrltten rule, oWfuS " 'ie III
= f1uences of congressman with votes
promotion in the civil service in the ter
T. ritories was practically Impossible
y Mr. Rodey tells the true story OF in
Alexander judgeship episode, and 1T
a. curious tale. There was absolntel
nothing against Mr. Alexander, but n
z name had not been considered as 4 ear
didate. Congressman de Alva s Ale'
ander. Of New York, had PERSISTENT
10 demanded McMillen's appointment. On
day, the president said to the clerk
appointments "Send in that Alexand
" man for the New Mexico judg;sa
le The clerk took the files and found llr
IN among the list of applicants the nan
AZ of Silas Alexander. of Socorro,
i and sent the name in. The president III
q covered the mistake through the new
I papers and withdrew Silas Alexande
substituting De Alva Alexander's mi
McMillen.