Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-11
STATEHOOD IN THE SENATE
Substitute Bill Withdrawn in Order that
Amendments May Be Made
TEXT OF REPORTS READ DURING SESSION
nuay Pleads for Rejection of Omnibus
Bill Proposed by Committee, Say
inE Indian Territory r. Not
Ready for Autonomy.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-Aimost the en-
tire session OF the senate today was devoted
to the discussion Of the omnibus statehood
bill.
Early in the morning Mr.. Quay (Pa.) sub
mitted a report OF his own and it's reading
lasted until 2, when the statehood bill was
laid before the senate. It's reading was be-
gun Immediately, and was followed by the
reading Of the substitute. Mr.. Beverldge
(Ind.), chairman OF the committee on ter
ritories, then presented the committee re-
port giving the reasons for recommending
Joint statehood OF Oklahoma and Indian
Territory, and for not fsvoring the omnibus
bill.
In between the senate passed a bill re-
funding certain revenue taxes to owners Of
private dies and relieving importers from
the duty on tea placed in bonded ware
houses.
Just before the adjournment Mr.. Nelson
Cdinn) secured permission to withdraw the
substitute in order to perfect It. Mr.. Quay
promptly insisted that II should be sent
back to the committee, but the chair ruled
against him.
When the senate convened today Mr.. Quay
CPa.) submitted a number OF resolutions Of
citizens of Oklahoma favoring the omnibus
statehood bill and protesting against Joint
statehood with the Indian Territory.
wave Of laughter swept over the cham
Der when the clerk read one telegram
which expressed the opinion that Joint
statehood for Oklahoma would make It
''hopelessly democratic" Mr.. Quay an
nounced that he had sent II to the desk by
mistake.
Mr.. Quay submitted an individual report
favoring the passage Of the omnibus state
hood bill and opposing the one state bill OF
the majority committee on territories.
At 2 O'Clock the statehood bill was taken
up and read at length.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) offered an amendment
changing the name of the proposed state
from Oklahoma to Jefferson"
Report Opposes Statehood.
Mr.. Beveridge, chairman Of the senate
committee on territories, presented the re-
port Of the majority of committee against
the omnibus bill for the admission of okla
homa, Arizona and New Mexico as states
and in support of the sub-bill reported by
the committee for the admission of one
state to embrace the area covered by the
Two territories OF Oklahoma and Indian ter:
ritory.
The admission Of New Mexico and Ari
Eona is opposed on. the grounds that th'
population IN both territories is sparse ant
insufficient in numbers, that a vast ma
jority OF the people of New Mexico are
spanish descent and speak the Spanisl
language only, Sthat many. OF the people o
both territories do, not understand Ameri
tan Institutions The assertion. is mad'
that many otsthe peopies do not wan
statehood Il {, ssS (, y. ~. t.rg.% ..I!s
Accepting me unit of Iepresentation rule
which, under the eenpus OF 1900 is 194, 1872
i is found that New Mexico with JOS. .31C
people. wound esp1s- frsss. but Afizons- would
iali short of the requirement. The commit
Zee lays down the general rule that while
no new state should necessarily be as large
in population as any existing state, i
shodld be large enough. to take It's fail
place with the rest of the republic. and II
is declared that it would be well to adop
q rule compelling any new state to have
population equal to the average population
Of the other states. Such rule would re
luiie population at the present time o
i,e5O, 900. .', f,,
Replying to the contention Of New Mexic,
and Arizona that development has been re
taTdsd because OF the lack OF statehood
the committee points out that Oklahom
Developed without statehood and says:
"The two territories OF Oklahoma an
Indian, Territory are declared to have
combined population OF about million. o
the people Of the Indian Territory only Sc.
900 are Indians. and attention is called I
the fact sthAt many of the people Of Ne'
Mexico and Arizona, while called Mexicans
are desesndants OF Indians as we'll as c
Mezicans and SpaniarSis t,
ffS An Of Ina
tory and Oklahoma the report says tina
Oklahoma Is too contracted in territory 70
statehood alone. and that mature. com
merce and all human conditions have de
creed. that they should be united"
In conclusion the report says: ''If II
n mi6taks- not to admit New Mexico an
Arizona at the present time, 1t is a mistRlS
which can be remedied by any future con
gress. II II is a mistake to admit thei
and that mistake is consummsted It neye
can be undone." o.
Quayl vigorously Opposes.
Senator ouay's report in favor Of the ON
nibus' bfii says the Indian Territory coul
not Be lhciuded In the state OF oklahomi
because treaty agreements between Il
United States and the Ave tribes proyid
fora separate. political Organization for II
dian Territory and, extend the jurisdictip
TO the tribal governments In 1906.
The intfodactioh OF liquor INTO India
Territory, which he says, wound follows
union. ofiShes- territory With oklahon
would den6raiiEe the tribes. The India
Territory 10 pnht N all respects to ent'
the union" s'' =
In cohsluslon Senator Quay says:
For the reasons, therefore that the r
puhlicah party In 1900 promised statehoC
10 the territories of Arizona, New Mexit
made OF ,prolhfsed to the Indian Territor
which Is not now At for statehood ar
numper o{ charaeter' 81 FORMATION as = y, !,
as inAres6arees iandoteTritOTial extent wi
nearly3ail the states admitted 10 the uniC
for many ears past = and in accordani
with the precedents ofSOur history, 1 recon
50
'tES \ 50 p q - = :