Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-03-22
STATEHOOD BILL,
Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona
Link Fortunes.
NO OPPOSITION IN HOUSE.

\ special dispatch to the 81. Louis
Globe. Democrat from Washington. un-
der date OF March T.. says:
Delegates Flynn. of Oklahoma. Rodey
Of New Mexico. and Smith. of Arizona.
held "A conference today and agreed to
present the statehood bills for the
three territories In form OF an omnibus
measure. which will be- reported 10y the
committee on territories at a meeting
on Friday Mr.. Flynn and Mr.. Rodey
had no special preference In the mat
ter, hut Mr.. Smith strongly urged the
report OF an omnibus bill. The other
members of the committee on terri
tories have lett this matter entirely
with the delegates from the territories
seeking statehood. and their agree.
mont will be made the report of the
full committee.
Delegate Smith contends that the
democrats in their caucus passed a
resolution pledging the minority party
10 the support of all of the statehood
bills This he CONSTITUTES TO mean that
the party desires the bills to he acted
upon together in an omnibus meas
ure. While the wording of the rosolu
ton referred To does not bear out the
contention of Mr. Smith. Delegates
Rodcy and Flynn are perfectly willing
that the three measures shall stand or
fall together. Mr. Smith frankly ad
mits that he is afraid that the hill for
the admission of Arizona would suffer
from political standpoint ii the bills
were considered separately.
II seems to be generally conceded
now that the statehood bills will pass
the house without any serious opposi.
lion. All OF the democratic members
are pledged TO the support of tie meas
urcs, and no republican has expressed
any intention of making a fight against
any of the bills. Chairman knox, of
the committee on territories. and mem
hers Hamilton OF Michigan Powers.
of Maine. and Cushman. OF Washing
ton on the rel uhican side. have taken
a deep interest In the statehood meas
ures and will strongly advocate their
adoption 10y the house. When the ON
niLus statehood measure has been re
ported il WI become privileged and
can be readily brought up for Consd-
Grafton.
II Is not certain now that advocates
of statehood vii! press consideration
of the bill in the senate at the present
session. The work for the hill has
been confined almost entirely 10 the
house. and there is some disposition
among the friends of the measure to
allow il TO remain in the senate as un
finished business until the adjourned
session OF congress. which VIII con
vonc in December There a." several
reasons in support of this pa u ac-
ton. ard NOT the least of the The
political reason. Much of t., senate
opposition. so q. IS L has .rcn eN-
pressed. has been based upon the fear
that the three territories. II admitted.
might supply six democratic senators
for the next congress. Delegate Rodey.
of New Mexico. and Delegate Flynn.
OF Ol'-'.e..a. 10th insist that thcir ter
ritorics arc safely republican and
prom to remain so. some OF the re-
publican senator are inclined TO con
eider the admission of the territories
from a political standpoint. and are
disposed 10 defer action until after the
congressional elections this fall II the
territories return republican delegates
IL will bo considered that the political
menace ca q reduced republican ma
iority in the senate has been removed.
Advocates OF statehood have also
discovered what they believe To Toe an
other reason for senate opposition 10
statehood legislation. They claim
that the senators object 10 having six
members of that body added who
would all be- in favor of national irri-
cation legislation. This may seem in
consistent In view of the fact that the
senate passed the irrigation bill with
out opposition Statehood workers
claim that the senate is counting upon
the house to kill the irrigation bill. II
this Is not accomplished another obiec-
a In, -4,t.h4AI laytGtnt Inn would h1
removed. So thoroughly are the state
hood advocates convinced that the fate
OF their bill is linked with the action
of congress on irrigation that they are
disposed 10 wait until that measure
has been disposed of by the house he
fore taking any action In the senate
IL. ..l..-.l ..l..ne.Lrl