Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-09
Iowa Congressman are Not in
Favor of it.
SECOND IS IA CASE In POINT
Sentiment in the Delegation Is That
That District Should Be Left to
Fight its Own Battles-other Wash.
inston Gossip.
[BY H. ]. MAHIN.l

Washington, Dec. s. The recent
talk about redistricting the state is
not regarded with favor by the Iowa
congressman. Representatives Connor
and Smith today declared themselves
opposed to the project. The principal
objection seems to be the fear that
such redistricting would place some
OF the present congressman in the
same district and thus enl somebody's
congressional career. Then there is
also very evident opinion that the
second district is able to take care of
herself and should be left to do so.
The redistricting talk of course all
arose from the fact that democrat
was elected in the second this fall.
1t is not thought that state which
rolls up a 10000 republican majority
should have democratic representa-
tion at Washington. The congressman
point to the fact that the second went
republican for the state ticket and de-
clare that she ought to be able to elect
a republican Representative without
any such aid as redistricting. 1t seems
quite evident that a movement to re-
| district would meet with opposition
from the Iowa delegation. The senti-
ment appears to be in favor of leaving
the second district to fight out her
own battles in the belief that she can
do it successfully.
No New States.
There is general impression
abroad in Washington that no bill will
be passed this session admitting any
of the territories that are knocking
on the door of statehood When the
house passed the omnibus bill admit
| ting all three territories of Oklahoma,
Arizona and New Mexico it was re-
marked that this was being done sim
ply to throw the responsibility on the
senate. The senate has taken up the
question by reporting bill favoring
the admission of only one state, to be
called Oklahoma and to include the
territories of Oklahoma and Indian
territory, embracing combined popu-
lation of upwards of 100000 people
This, it is declared will never become
law. In the first place there are
conditions in respect to the public and
Indian lands which make union of
the two territories impracticable. In
the second place the new state as
planned would be democratic In
Oklahoma the two parties are about
evenly divided, with slight favor to the
republicans. Indian territory is over
whelmingly democratic. The bill will
be fought too because it discriminates
against New Mexico and Arizona. both
of whom were applying for statehood
/ when wild herds roamed over the
plains of Oklahoma which are now
studded with thriving towns and cities.
The Trust Bills.
AS was predicted, congress was sim.
ply overwhelmed with bills this ses.
sion proposing plans for trust legisla.
ton. The method Of handling these
bills is unique. They were all referred
to subcommittee of the judiciary
committee of the house. with Mr. Lit.
tlefield as chairman. The duty of this
committee is to scan all of the bills
and bring in one which in their opin.
ion retains the best points of the
bunch. Thesbi which provides for
publicity of the business and methods
of the trusts is generally favored. II
is the bill presented by Mr. Littlefield
but it is declared to contain views al
most exactly in line with those offered
1 by Representative Hepburn of Iowa
When Mr.. Hepburn's views We're made
ipublic it was stated that they came
nearer to the ideas of President Roose
welt on the matter than any others
presented. Knowing that Mr.. Little
field was to present bill of this sort
Mr.. Hepburn did not present one him
!, self. His bill was a brief one con.
tanning only the proposition to appro
pirate fs5oGooO to the judiciary depart
ment to enable them to enforce this
law.