Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-12-06
STATEHOOD FOR
NEW MEXICO
Senator Elkins introduced an En-
abling Act and Will Work
Hard for 1t.
PRESIDENT WOULD SIGN 1T
The international Dam Schemers Have Had
Their Bills introduced ced-Representa-
tive Curtis Wants to Have Buff
falo Park Established.

Senator Elkins Wednesday Afternoon
introduced the New Mexico admission
bill.
1t is just rs years since, as delegate
from New Mexico, he presented the
| first of the bills for an enabling act fol
that territory, which have failed be-
cause of persistent hostility to the ter
he is going to do everything he can
this year for New Mexico, and there is
undoubtedly a better chance than for
some years. 1t is not regarded as a
good sign that the president of whose
support much has been expected, omit
| ted all reference to admission of any of
the territories in his message. 1t is
however, certain that Mr.. Roosevelt
looks with more favor on New Mexico
than the other aspiring territories. If
bill is passed admitting New Mexico
it will be promptly signed by him.
Delegate Flynn had long talk with
the president about Oklahoma We'd
nesday afternoon. 1t is said the pres
dent does not favor the admission or
Oklahoma until the matter of the civ
ilized tribes is disposed of. There is
so much fear about this territory that
Senator Fairbanks makes an attempt
to inject sentiment into the question in
bill introduced by him today In this
bill he proposes Oklahoma's admission
and that it's capital shall be named
Mckinley.
Representative Curtis of Kansas,
Wednesday, introduced the bill pro-
viding for establishment of reserva-
ton of 100000 acres in southern New
Mexico to be fenced and used as graz
ing ground for buffalo.
Senator Culberson and Congressman
Stephens of Texas, have both intro
duced bills to provide for what is term
ed the equitable distribution of the
waters of the Rio Grande between the
United States and Mexico, and for the
purpose of building an international
dam and reservoir at Ell Paso. The
bills provide that there shall be no ap-
preparation and storage of the waters
of the Rio Grande or it's tributaries to
which others have right by prior ap-
propriation; and persons guilty of un-
lawfully appropriating and storing
these waters shall be punished by a
fine not exceeding $1,000, or by impris-
onment Not exceeding one year, or by
both. The bill also authorizes the Sec
retary of state to proceed with the
consultation Of a treaty between the
United States and Mexico providing
for the dam.
Senator Hansbrough Wednesday re-
his irrigation bill of last
session, with various amendments. 1t
provides for the setting aside of the
lie lands in the arid and semi-arid re-
gions of the United States and the col
lection of these moneys in a fund to be
used for the reclamation of the arid |
LANDS.
The secretary of the interior is given
charge of this fund and of all the de-
tails of it's collection and expenditure. |
He is authorized to make surveys and |
construct reservoirs where necessary
and to condemn the lands necessary to
do so. Water Is to be distributed, and |
persons whose lands are benefited are
to pay for the same, the funds thus
collected to go into the reclamation
fund Senator Hansbrough has bor-
rowed one section from the Newlards |
l'ill, providing that nothing in his pro
posed law shall be allowed to conflict |
with state laws bearing on the subject
IF irrigation. The secretary of interior
s authorized to Immediately ascertain
What are arid and semi-arid lands.