Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-12-05
ARR TO Be ONE STATE.
oklahoma and the Indian Territory
Consolidation Favored.
MEASURE AGREED ON
The Provisions Of the Bill That the
Majority Of the Senate Commit
tee on Territories Desire
10 See Prevail.

Washington. Dec. i-The decision
OF the committee on territories OF the
senate providing for admission OF Ok
lahoma and the Indian Territory a.
one state. to be named Oklahoma. was
agreed to by all Republican members
except Mr. Quay. Democrats opposed
the measure.
The status OF the Indians residing In
the two territories Is defined In a pro-
vision inserted In the first section OF
the hill This authorizes the inhabi'
tants Of the two territories TO adopt
a state constitution. and says:
Nothing contained In the said con
stitutlon shall be construed TO limit or
impair the rights OF persons or prop.
erty pertaining to the Indians In said
territory so Ions as such rights shall
remain unextinguished. or 20 effect tho
authority OF the government OF the
United States to make any law or reg
ulatlon respecting such Indians. their
lands. property or other rights which
II would have been competent TO make
II this act had never passed"
As usual In the admission OF states
all male citizens are authorized to vote
for delegates 10 the constitutional con
ventlOn and there Is a provision added
extending this privilege to Indians who
are members OF any tribes located In
the Indian Territory. These Indians
are also made eligible to become dele
gates to the convention. The total
number OF such delegates IS limited 20
100. sixty each from Oklahoma and In.
dan Territory In Oklahoma the dele.
gates are TO be apportioned to the va
rious counties by the territorial officers
and In Indian Territory TO the districts
by the judges OF the United States
court. The federal judges In Indian
Territory are also made 10 constitute
the final canyassing board for the vote
In that territory. The statehood con-
Vention Is to be held az the seat OF
government Of Oklahoma Territory.
Among the declarations prescribed FOR
the proposed state Is one forever pro-
hibiting polygamous or plural mar.
riages.' There Is also a provision re-
curing the state TO assume the debts
OF the territory OF Oklahoma The
constitution adopted Is 20 be submitted
TO the qualified voters OF the state for
ratification or rejection as usual In such
cases. In case OF acceptance a procla.
nation q the president will be the
mai act necessary 20 admit 10 com
plete statehood.
The new state Is 10 be allowed four
representatives In congress until the
next census. two United States sena-
tors and a full quota OF state officers.
Liberal provision Is made for the pub |
lie school system OF the state The |
state Is 10 be divided into two judicial |
districts. 20 be known as the Eastern. |
covering the area Of the present Indian |
Territory and the Western district |
covering the territory Comprised I'm |
Oklahoma. The constitutional commit.
tee Is empowered 70 divide the land |
comprised In the Usage and Kaw res
eryations Into counties. the number Of
counties being limited 20 twenty-four
In Memory of Deceased Ierans.
Washington. Dec. 4.-The senate
wednesday began the work Of dlspos.
Ing OF the business before Il. although
the session lasted only an hour and a
half. when an adjournment was taken
at 1880 O'Clock out Of respect To the
memory OF Representatives DeGranen.
reid and Sheppard OF Texas. The bin
to amend the immigration laws was
under discussion Early In the dav
Mr.. Nelson. from the committee ON
territories, reported a substitute for
teh omnibus statehood BIN. with tho
recommendation that Oklahoma ana
indian Territory be admitted into the
Union as one state under the name Of
Oklahoma. Winch the Immigration
bill was brought up Mr.. Quay preclpl.
tated a discussion over the status ~
the statehood bill. which was termI.
mated by ruling from the chair that
BEGINNING on Dec 10. Il would be then
diminished business and that az the
closing hour each day Il would be IaId
before the senate unless displaced by
a vote.