Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-27
DEMOCRATS FRAME OFFER
Submit Definite Proposition for Statehood
Compromise to Republicans.
HOUSE MINORITY PROMISES TROUBLE
Pledges Itself to Use Every Effort 20
Keep Business at stsndstin as
Protest Against Unseat-
ing of Butler.

WASHINGTON, Feb. S6.-The senator's
who as a committee Of the democratic SEN
atorisl caucus yesterday tentatively sub
mitted a counter statehood proposition to
the republicans today presented their prop
osition in formal shape to their demo-
cratic colleagues. and 1t was generally en-
dorsed. They then submitted It to the re-
publican senator's. as
Republicans f~avoring statehood indicated
a willingness to accept, but the opponents
Of statehood declined, saying they could
go no further than they had done already
In their original proposition.
Following is the democratic proposition:
The state of Montezuma shall be divided
and the two states of Montezuma, and Ari-
zona shall be created therefrom, the state
OF Montezuma to be composed of the ter
ritory within the present boundaries of the
of Arizona being of the territory within
the present boundaries of Arizona Terri
tory. provided that the two states of
Montezuma and Arizona shall be made by
proclamation of the president whenever
Arizona as now bounded shall have 2OO,-
Provided, That a census shall be taken
each year by the National Census bureau,
commencing on May l, 1904, and each May
/ thereafter, and that not more than three
months shall be consumed in taking each
census.
The intention was to leave the provi-
sions regarding Oklahoma and Indian Ter
ritory as submitted, but to substitute the
proposed change for all propositions relst-
ing to the territories Of New Mexico and
Arizona.
Cash for New Department.
|, The house committee on appropriations
today authorized Representative Hemen-
way to report a bill appropriating $50, 700
for the Department Of Commerce and Labor.
For compensation and travelling expenses
of special agents in the bureau Of corpora
lions, 5000 is granted; for specific sala-
ries, $4,000; for clerks in the Office OF
the secretary and in the bureau Of manu-
facturers and corporations, $4,000, and for
contingent expenses. $4,000. A provision
req0fres the secretary OF the treasury, in
whose immediate office more than 600 peo-
pie are employed, to transfer to the secre-
tary of and labor all of such
people now employed on work relating to
the bureaus that have been transferred.
May Reduce Mail Clerks Pay.
The amendment made by the senate to
the postof1ce appropriation bill providing
that no deficiency shall be created in the
item for railroad mail pay is attracting the
attention OF members Of the house. The
actual appropriation was reduced from $685.
900, 600, as passed by the house, to $36, 000,-
coo, and as the innate we're in excess
Of the appropriation made by the house
bill, it is said the postmaster general will
be obliged to keep within the appropriation
which will mean a scaling down of rates.
Tho house democratic caucus today
adopted the following resolution;
Resolved, Tha we. shall" resist by all
honorable means at our command the un-
aaaffnO nf CRnfnqfaa RlflaTN and seating
of Contestant Wagner, being convinced
that the republican managers in the house
nave determined to disregard the large
| majority of $500 votes by. which Contestee
Butler was returned and dispose of the
contest arbitrarily In blind craftsmanship,
without reference to its merits and without
effort or desire to learn what they are,
and that by way of emphasizing our con-
domination of partisan disregard of the
rights of the minority and this wanton out
rage, lacking even the sorry excuse OF
pretended partisan necessity, and to pre-
vent the passage of vicious measures which
there is every reason, for believing the
the house in the confusion incident to the
ending OF the Anal session of an expiring
congress, we pledge ourselves to stand to-
gether in support of the demand for the
transaction ofO business and a recorded
yea and nay vote upon everything upon
which the house shall act up to the mo-
ment of final adjournment.
The caucus met at $3.50 and was attended
by nearly all the democratic representa-
tives In the city and the resolution was
unanimously agreed to after a general
discussion. 1t is the opinion Of the
minority that the republicans will not be
able to accomplish more than to pass the
appropriation bills before adjournment.