The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-04
LATEST STATEHOOD BILL.
Conditions fore Admission of Oklahoma
and indian Territory.

and indian Territory.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 3.-The
substitute for the house omnibus state
hood bill, swilich was reported to the SEN
tee on territories, provides for the admis
sion of one new state to comprise the
territory now included in Oklahoma and
Indian Territories, the new state to take
the name of Oklahoma The bill as
reported makes no reference whatever to
New Mexico or 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 dcfined in proviso
inserted in the first section of the bill
This section authorizes the inhabitants of
the two territories to adopt a state con-
stitution and then says: y
Nothing contained ira the said consti-
tuition shall be consTuedtto limit or i'm
pair the rights of persons. or property per
tanning to the Indians Of said territories
so long as such right shall remain unex-
tinguished or to limit OF affect the author
81 the government a7of the United
States to make any law or regulation re-
specting such Indians, their lands, prop
erty or other rights which it would have
been competent to make If this section had
not passed" CO g
AS usual in the admission of states, all
male citizens are authorized to vote for
delegates to the constitutional conven-
tending this privilege to indians who are
members of any of the tribes in Indian
Territory. -
These Indians also are made eligible to
become delegates to the Convention The
total number of such delegates is limited
to 120 sixty each from Oklahoma and
Indian Territory. In Oklahoma the dele
gates are to be apportioned to the various
counties by the territorial officers and in
Indian Territory to the districts by the
judges of the United States courts The
Federal i11cgreS n Indian Te1ritnTU also
are made to constitute the final canvass
ing board for the vote in that territory.
The statehood convention is to be held at
the seat of government of Oklahoma Ter
ritory. Among the declarations pre-
sc1ta3ed for the proposed state is one for
ever prohibiting polygamous or plural
quiring the state to assume the debts of
the territory of Oklahoma The constitu-
tion adopted is to be submitted to the
qualified voters of the proposed state for
ratification or rejection, as usual in such
cases.. In case Of acceptance a proclana-
tion of the president viii be the final act
necessary to admit to complete state
hood.
The new state is to be allowed four
representatives, in congress until the next
census, two United States senators and
vision is made for the public school sys-
tenn of the state.
The state is to be divided into two
judicial districts to be known as the East
Gil OISdlCt, CoNSitli Tic pISSt5ltt ulOldll
Territory, and the Western district, COW
e1ing the territory at present comprised in
Oklahoma.
The constitutional convention is en-
powered to divide indiana Territory and
the land comprised I'M the Usage and
Kaw reservations into counties the num-
Der of counties being limited to twenty
four. IL
There was no discussion in the com
Inittee and as soon as the substitute bill
was presented it was submitted to vote.
The votes of all the Republican members
except Senator Quay were cast for the
substitute and of ALL the Democratic
members against it.. Senator Quay voted
for the Dem ocrats. lThesvote stood to 5.
There also was voteeon reporting the
bill as it came from the house, the livi-
sion being on the same lines as that of
the vote on the substituted except that the
majority was in the negative.