The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-04
SENATE GETS
DOWN To WORK
Bill to Amend The immigration
Laws Under Discussion.
STATUS OF STATEHOOD BILL
ADJOURNMENT OUT OF RESPECT
TO DECEASED MEMBERS.

U1 ASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-The senate
Va today began the real work of
disposing of the business before
it. although the session lasted only an
hour and a half. When an adjourn
ment was taken, at 1870 o'clock, out Of
respect to the memory of Representa-
tives De Graffenreid and Shepard Of
Texas, the bill to amend the immigra-
ton laws was under discussion. Early
in the day Mr. Nelson, from the COM
mittee on territories, reported a sub
stitute for the omnibus statehood bill,
with the recommendation that Okla
homa and Indian territories be admit
ted into the Union as one state, under
the name of Oklahoma. When the inn
migration bill was brought up Mr. Quay
precipitated a discussion over the
status of the statehood bill, which was
dominated by a ruling from the chair
that beginning Dec. 10, it would be the;
unfinished business and that at the
closing hour each day it would be laid
before the senate unless displaced by
vote of that body.
Substitute Bill.
When the senate met today Mr.. Mel
son. from the committee on territories,
reported substitute for the house Dill
providing for the admission OF certain
territories into the Union as states, and
recommending the admission of Okla
hOma and Indian territory as one state,
under the name of Oklahoma.
The bill authorizes the inhabitants
of the two territories to adopt state
constitution defining the status of the
Indians. as follows:
Nothing contained in the said consti-
tuition shall be construed to limit or i'm
pair the rights of persons or property
pertaining to the Indians of said terri
tories so long as such rights shall re-
main unextinguished, or TO limit or af-
feet the authority of the government of
the United States to make any law or
regulation respecting such Indians,
their lands, property or other right
which it would be competent TO make f
this act had never been passed.
Indians are made eligible to become
delegates to the constitutional conven-
ton. The statehood convention is to
be held at the seat of government in
oklahoma territory. Among the decia-
rations prescribed for the proposed
state is one forever prohibiting polyg-
amous or plural marriages"
Four Congressman.
The new state is to be allowed four
representatives in congress until the
next census, and also is to have two
United States senators. The state is to
be divided into two judicial districts.
The constitutional convention is en-
powered to divide Indian territory and
the land comprised in the Usage and
Kaw reservations into counties, the
number being limited to twenty-fOur.
The votes of all the Republican mem
bers except Senator Quay were cast
for the substitute and all the Demo-
cratic mem ers against it. Senator
Quay voted with the Democrats. The
vote stood to 5.
Mr. Penrose moved to take up the i'm
migration bill. and Mr.. Quay wanted 1t
distinctly understood that nothing was
to interfere with the bin admitting the
new states
President Pro Tenn Frye held that the
bill would become the unfinished bust
ness unless displaced by a vote of the
senate.
The senate then began consideration
of the house immigration bill.
After short discussion of the bill,
the senate adopted resolutions of re
gret on the death of representatives
r. E. De Graffenreid and John L.
Sheppard of Texas and, at 1870 p. m,
adjourned until tomorrow.