Evening star., 1901-12-20
PROPOSED AS STATES
Bills introduced for the Admission
Of Territories,
TO add MORE STARS TO: TIE UNION
Other Measures of Interest to the
Sout west.
PUNISHING TRAIN ROBBERY

| Quite a number of bills have been intro
| duced in Congress of interest to the terri
| tories The principal measures, of course,
| are the enabling acts providing for state
| hood. These bills are in the usual form,
| such as have been urged upon Congress for
| several years past, and they resemble in
| detail the acts under which the newer
states have been admitted to the Union.
! Delegate Smith of Arizona is sponsor for
a statehood bill for his territory. Mr.. Smith
| has also introduced bill for the creation
| of SUPPORT of entry at Douglass, Ariz.,
! and which also provides for the appoint
ment of a deputy collector. who shall re-
ceive salary of 1000 per annum.
| Mr. Smith also introduced in the House
| bill authorizing the entry, location, opera
| tion and development of mineral land on the
| Indian reservation in the territory of Ari-
| zona. This bill provides that in addition
/ 10 the usual requirements of the mineral
| laws that 5 per cent of the net profits de-
| rived from such mining operations upon
/ this Indian reservation shall be paid to
| the Secretary of the interior for the beneht
| of the Indians.
| To Admit New Mexico and Oklahoma.
A statehood bill for New Mexico was in
| troduced in the House by Delegate Rodey.
This bill is similar to the Arizona measure,
| except where it is necessary to conform to
variations in local laws. Senator Platt of
New York introduced a bill to confirm the
private lard claim known as the Arroyo De
San Lorenzo grant. hir. stephens of Texas
introduced bill In the House setting aside
certain lands within the Mescalero indian
reservation in New Mexico for the of
the Indians thereon and providing for the
sale of the residue of the lands therein for
the benefit of the said tribe of indians, and
to the end that the surplus land may be
open to settlement.
oklahoma is represented on the calendar
by bill for single statehood and by an
| other bill admitting Oklahoma and Indian
| territory as the state of Oklahoma. Mr..
| Flynn. the delegate from Oklahoma, intro>
| duced the bill for single statehood, and
! Senator Fairbanks introduced Mir. Flynn's
| bill in the Senate Bills have also been
| prepared providing two associate justices
| for the supreme court for the territory of
| Oklahoma, dividing the Indian territory into
| counties and a number of measures adding
| to and amending the present laws govern
| ing Indian territory
| Senator Stewart introduced a bill which
proposes that the territorial judges now
! appointed by the President shall be elected
| by the people. Delegate smith of Arizona
| introduced a bill creating one judicial dis
| trict for all purposes of appeals from the
| several courts out of the territory of New
| Mexico, Oklahoma and Arizona, and pro-
| viding for three judges to form this court,
| one of whom shall reside at the capital of
| each of the three territories.
To Punish Train Robbery.
Representative Ray introduced a bill for
| the suppression of train robbery in terrific
| ries of the United States. and he proposes
| to make train robbing or the intent to COM
| nit that crime felony. for which the cul-
prit shall suffer the penalty of death.
Representative Stephens Of Texas intro
l. duced a general till allowing prospecting
and working of mining claims upon all In
dian reservations and United States terri
tories. Representative Cooper of Texas in
troduced bill granting to the Alabama
tribe of Indians in the state of Texas 25,OOO
acres of land out Of any indian lands of the
United States not already appropriated.
Representative Shafroth wants Congress to
set aside the Colorado cliff dwellings near
the Mesa Verde as national park.
In addition to the bill regulating the pub
lie lands of Hawaii several measures have
been introduced affecting the coinage Of
those islands, to provide public buildings
and otherwise put Hawaiian territory on
the same footing as other territories in tts
demands upon Congress for annual appro-
/, priationS.
Senator's Platt' of Connecticut and Quarles
of Wisconsin and Representative Curtis of
Kansas representing the two Indian COM
mittees of the Senate and House., have been
In conference of late with Secretary Hitch
cock concerning a general plan of action
to be adopted on affairs relating to Indian
territory and Oklahoma. Out OF these con-
ferences 1t is expected that definite plans
will be matured soon after the holidays
whereby there will be united action between
the Interior Departmen MT and both branches
OF Congress on pending questions affecting
this locality. Thus far the conferences
have led to a general discussion of the ter
ritorial form of government, the settlement
of the question of the five tribes, statehood
and the effect OF new conditions on existing
Indian treaties and on tribal relations AL
though no agreement has yet been reached
the discussion has shown that a working
basis Of common action is likely to be Sc
cured when the conference is resumed early
In January.