The Washington times., 1902-05-10
Approves Admission of
Oklahoma, New Mexico,
and Arizona.
AMENDMENT VOTED DOWN
Measure as Reported From Committee
Passes Without Division-Provision
Prohibiting Polygamy or Plural Mar
riages Incorporated.

| without division and with only few
dissenting voices. the House yesterday
passed the omnibus statehood bill. which
enables the people of the Territories OF
Oklahoma. New Mexico. and Arizona to
form constitutions. and the Territories to
te admitted as States in the Union.
The OverJtreet amendment proposing TO
| combine the Territories of New Mexico
and Arizona under the name of Monte
yuma. and admit them as one State. was
Overwhelmingly defeated. the vote being
2S to 1903. 1t was expected that the
amendment would receive much larger
support.
1t is said that the sudden attack Of ILL
ness which Delegate Smith sustained at
the conclusion Of his appeal upon behalf
Of Arizona, that her identity might be
preserved. had much to do with the de-
feat of the amendment He has striven
earnestly for many years for statehood
for Arizona, and many members were said
to have been moved by feelings of senti-
ment not to stifie his ambition to see
Arizona a State by merging the Territory
with New Mexico.
Polygamy Prohibited.
The only material amendment to the
bill was that offered by Representative
Roberts (Rep.. Mass.). prohibiting polyg-
amy or plural marriages in any of the
three Territories. This was adopted unan-
imously and without discussion.
The House took up the bill in Committee
of the Whole Immediately after the read
ing of the Journal. and Mr.. Overstreet ad-
dressed the House briefly in support Of
his amendment to create the State of
Montezuma out OF New Mexico and Ari-
be fulfillment Of the promise made BY
the two parties In their platforms to the
people of the Territories
He cited Texas as an illustration of
large State where the people would not
under any consideration. not even to OBJ
tain ten United States Senator's consent
to a subdivision into Ave States.
Mr.. Ball Oem-. Texas) followed in op-
position to the amendment. He said such
a plan was but so per cent fulillment OF
party pledges.
The amendment was advocated by Mr..
Lacey (Rep. Iowa). He said the two
1
Il at all. Together they comprised 10000
square miles less than Texas, and their
.otal inhabitants numbered 5000 less than
hose Of Milwaukee.
No Little Boroughs Wanted
1--WE want no more of these little bor-
,ughs,'' Mr.. Lacey said Look at Della
ware. We have to ask the President OF
he gas works to know whether or not she
shall be represented in the Senate. We
want no more States like Delaware.
which the late Senator ingalls, once de-
,crihed as consisting Of three countries
1t low tide and two counties at high tide"
Mr.. Rodey. the Delegate from New
Mexico opposed the amendment, saying
hat the Overstreet amendment would re-
,ure an entire recasting OF the bill. and
vas intended really to kill the bill. Mr..
Smith. the Delegate from Arizona. fol-
lowed. quoting this doggerel which he
said the committee might apply as it
pleased:
We love the man who knows it all.
From East to West, from North to South;
He knows all things. both great and small.
And tells them with his tireless mouth
lie keeps the wondering world in awe.
The while he WORKS his iron jaw
Not Wanted BY the Territories.
Neither one Of the Territories. Mr..
smith said. would ordain constitution
Initing them into one Commonwealth
Mr.. Knox (Rep., Mass.l. chairman of the
Committee on Territories. imputed no
uch design to Mr.. overstreet in Offering
lis amendment, but it was Of such a radi-
al nature that it's effect must be to de-
troy the bill. He pleaded for justice to
he two Territories. II members could
lot vote for statehood. that was all right.
nut they ought not to vote TO wipe tho
territories off the map.
The amendment was defeated-2S to 1O6.
At the conclusion Of the reading OF the
ill the committee arose and the measure
ras naSsed