The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-11
MAY Be JEFFERSON
STATESMAN'S NAME SUGGESTED AS
THAT FOR NEW STATE.
BACON WANTS THAT NAME.
1T MAY BE SELECTED IN PLACE OF
OKLAHOMA.

Senate Spent Almost It's Entire Ses-
sion Considering the Statehood
BiII-Maiority Report Was to Take
in What Is Now Indian Territory
and Oklahoma as OlSlahOma-Da-
cons Amendmcnt-Quay Makes an
Individual Report, Saying Treaty
with Indians Would BE Violated.
Washington. Dec. 10.-Almost the en-
tire session of the Senate to-day was
devoted to consideration of the omni-
bus statehood bill. The bill came over
as the unfinished business from the
last session, and by agreement to-day
wa fixed for calling it up. Early In
the morning hour. Mr.. Quay submit
ted a report of his own, and its read
ing occupied the time of the Senate
until o'clock, when the statehood
bill was laid before the Senate. Mr..
Beveridge. chairman of the Committee
on Territories, then presented the COM
mittee report.
In the course of the reading of the
several reports and the statehood bill
the Senate passed a bill refunding GER
tain revenue taxes to owners of pri-
vate dies, and also a bill relieving
certain importers from the duty on tea
placed in bonded warehouses.
Just before adjournment, Mr.. Mel
son secured permission to withdraw
the substitute statehood bill in order
to perfect it. Mr.. Quay promptly In
sisted that the substitute, If with
drawn, should be sent back to the
committee, but the chair ruled against
him.
The action of Senator Nelson in
withdrawing the amendment to the bill
was, he states, for the purpose of
making some amendments to the sub
stitute. which was made necessary be-
cause it was hastily drafted.
1t is possible that the name Jeffer-
son will be substituted for the name
of Oklahoma, in accordance with an
amendment offered by Senator
Bacon The withdrawal of the sub
| stitute prevents test vote at present
| but one will occur as soon as it is
| again presented, according to the notice
given by Mr.. Quay. The delay of this
| test vote will afford an opportunity for
| further canvassing among the Repub-
| Iicans who are favorfng the omnibus
| bill, while a vote would have commit
| ted them on one side or the other
/ which was not considered desirable dr
view Of the probable majority now III
| favor of the omnibus bill.
Their People Too Nondescript.
Senator Beveridge, chairman of the
Senate Committee on Territories, pre-
| scented the report of the majority of the
committee against the bill for the ad-
| mission of Oklahoma, Arizona and New
| &c OF and in gllnnOTt OF the
substitute bill reported by the COM
| nittee for the admission of one state
| to embrace the area covered by the
| two territories of Oklahoma and Indian
| Territory.
The admission of New Mexico and
| Arizona is opposed on the grounds
| that the population in both territories
is sparse and insufficient in numbers;
| that a vast majority of the people OF
| New Mexico are of Spanish descent
| and speak the Spanish language only;
, that many of the people of both ter
| ritories are illiterate, and do not I'M
derstand American institutions.
The assertion is made that many of
| the people do not want statehood.
Accepting the unit of representation
| rule, which, under the census of 1900
| is 1874. 1872. it is found, that New Mex
! leo, with 1876, $40 people would come in,
| ably short of the requirement.
Report of the Committee.
Taking up the substitute bill the
committee says the two territories OF
| Oklahoma and Indian Territory have
| a combined population of about 1,0OO,-
| 600 people. They point out that of the
| people of Indian Territory only $4,000
| are Indians. and in this connection
| they call attention to the fact that
many of. the people of New Mexico and
| Arizona, While called Mexicans. are
| descendants of Indians, as we'll as OF
| Mexicans and Spaniards. ContendinR
| for the union of the two territories,
| they say that Oklahoma is too con-
| tracted in area for statehood alone,
and that nature. commerce and all
human conditions have decreed that
| they should be united.
Senator Quay presented to the Sen
| ate an individual report in favor OF
! the bill. The proposition to exclude
| New Mexico and Arizona. as recon-
mended by the majority of the COM
mittee, Senator Quay says, is in d.
rect violation of the pledge made by
the Republican platform. The Indian
! Territory should not be included in
| the state of Oklahoma. because treaty
| agreement between the United States
and the Five Tribes provide for a sep
| arate political organization for the
| Indian Territory.