The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-04
NEW STATEHOOD BILL
ONLY OKLAHOMA TO BE AD-
 MITTED TO UNION.
Substitute Agreed on by the Senate Committee on Territories Makes No Mention of Arizona
 or New Mexico.

Washington, Dec. 3.-The Senate Com mittee on Territories agreed to report a substitute for the House omnibus State hood Dill. The substitute provides for the admission of one new State to com prise the territory now included in Okla homa and Indian Territory, the new State to take the name of Oklahoma. The bill as reported makes no reference to New Mexico and Arizona.
 The decision of the full committee is in accord with the conclusion reached by the Republican members (except Senator Quay). The status of the Indians residing in the two Territories is defined in a provision inserted n the first section of the bill. This section authorizes the in- habitants of the two Territories to ad ,pt State Constitution and says:
 Nothing contained in the said Consti- tuition shall be construed to limit or im- pair the rights of persons or property pertaining to the Indians in said terri tory so long as such rights shall remain unextinguished or to limit or affect the authority of the government of the United States to make any law or legislation re- specting such Indians, their lands, prop erty or other rights which 1t would have been competent to make if this act had never passed"
 AS usual the dumlSSlOn or states, all male citizens are authorized to vote for delegates to the Constitutional Conven- ton and there is a provision adopted extending this privilege to Indinas who are members of any of the tribes located in Indian Territory. These Indians are also made eligible to become delegates to the Convention. The total number of such delegates Is limited to 13O, 60 each from Oklahoma and Indian erritory. In Oklahoma the delegates are to be appor- tioned to the various counties by the ter ritorial officers and in Indian Territory to the districts by the Judges of the United States Courts. The'Federal Judges in In- dian Territory are also to constitute the final Canvassing Board for the vote in that Territory. The Statehood convention is to be held at the seat of government of Oklahoma Territory.
 Among the declarations prescribed for the proposed State is one forever pro- hibiting jolygamous or plural marriages" There iss also a provision requiring the State to assume the debts of the Terri tory of Oklahoma. The Constitution adopted Is to be submitted to the qualified voters of the proposed State for ratif- cation or rejection as usual in such cases. In case of acceptance a proclama- ton of the President will be the final act HcCeSSary tO duInlL tO complete Stdte- hood.
 The new State Is to be allowed four representatives in Congress until the next census, two United States Senators and full quota of State officers. Liberal provision is made for the public school system of the State The State is to be divided into two judicial districts to be known as the Eastern. covering the area of the present Indian Territory. and the Western District covering the territory at present comprised in Oklahoma.
 The Constitutional Convention is em- powered to divide Indian Territory and the land comprised in the Osage and Raw into counties, the number of counties being limited to twenty-four.
 The session of the committee at which the bill was ordered reported did not exceed fifteen minutes in duration. There was no discussion. As soon as the sub stitute bill was presented, 1t was sub mtted to a vote. The votes of all the Republican members except Senator Quay were cast for the substitute and all the Democratic votes against it.
 Senator Quay voted with the Demo- crats. The vote stood to 5. There also was vote on reporting the bill as 1t came from the House. the division being