The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-27
The STATEHOOD Bill
YIELDS A POINT
Rider to the Postal and Appro,
priation Bills vii! Be
withdrawn.
SITUATION MUCH MIXED
Apparently the Statehood Measure i,
Now to Be Used as a Threat
Against the Panama and
Cuban Treaties.

Washington, Feb. 26.-It has been
agreed to withdraw the omnibus state
hood bill as an amendment to the post
Office and agricultural appropriation
bills. The omnibus bill will be kept
before the senate, but will not interfere
with appropriation bills.
Washington, Feb. 26.-The democratic
senatorial caucus has rejected the two
state proposition for admission OF new
states, submitted by the republicans.
The matter Of further negotiations was
LETT with the democratic members Of
the committee on postoffices which has
charge of the appropriation bill With
the statehood rider. The object is to
ascertain whether there is a ma ajority
OF the senate willing to vote the rider
upon the blu. Unless there is assur-
ance of success the democrats will not
vote for the rider. The democrats will
not accept anything on the basis Of
two states.
The Democratic Caucus. Il
Speeches Were made in the caucusgpy
Senators Clay, Bacon, Miller, Dubois,
Simmons, Foster of Louisians, Morgan,
Bate, Pettus, and others.
All the speakers took positive grounds
and several of them spoke emphatically
| against the proposition to put the
statehood bill on any of the appropria
tion bills as a rider. At the same time
they favored placing the future course
of the party with reference to the
statehood bill as such, and also as a
rider, in the hands of the democratic
members of the committee on post
offices. A democratic senator who is
a member OF the committee on ter
ritories on being asked for reasons for
rejecting the compromise proposition
wrote down the following reasons,
which after submitting to several Of
his colleagues he gave out for publica-
ton: SIS
when Arizona and New Mexico
were made territories their areas were
established for ultimate statehood pur-e
poses, and all the interests and eXpec-
tations of the people of the two ter
ritories have been in anticipation Of the
two states."
st would be a gross injustice to the
people of both to join them in one state.
The proposed state would be as large
as Texas, and Texas is too large for its
convenient government.
Republicans Accused of Insincerity.
MANY democrats feel that the re-
publican fight for statehood has not
been sincere, they having used the,
statehood bill as buffer to prevent
trust legislation and discussion. For
democrats to accept the proposed con-
solidation now would be to play into
the hands Of the republican antitrust
cabal
The people of Arizona are opposed
to consolidation with New Mexico, and
the people of both the territories should
be consulted.
"The democrats have stood for the
| IT. 41l.- LII AZ
They believe that each is entitled to
statehood and they have stood Loyalty
by the republican minority in their eff
forts to give them statehood, but they.
will not inflict the injustice that prob
ably never can be repaired Of forcing
the people of the two territories into a
state so large that it would forever
continue a burden they should not
bear
The indications are strong that the
question will receive very little if any
more consideration during the session,
and even the best friends of statehood
admit that there Is no chance for sue
ress at this time.
The Proposed Compromise.
Senator Spooner had drawn up an
enabling act. which was submitted to
both republicans and democrats. It
provided in brief that Oklahoma shall
be admitted as state now, and that
Indian territory shall be added to 1T
after three years. 1t is further ar
ranged that Arizona and New Mexico
shall be admitted as one state now and
shall be broken into two states later on
when a certain limit of population is
reached.
This compromise has not been salts
factory to either the democrats or re-
publicans among the rank and file of
the senate. 1t would be accepted, how
ever, by Senator Quay himself and by
several Of the republican boilers who
are acting with him, and by few of
the democratic allies. The plan did not
meet the views of Senators Nelson,
Beveridge. and other members Of the
committee on territories. 1t has been
urged strongly by friends of the Pana-
ma canal, who see that in no other
way can they get the treaty ratified
at this session of congress.
The Panama canal treaty cannot be
acted upon until the statehood bill is
out Of the way. The Cuban treaty is
not likely to pass at this session at all,
as there Is every evidence that the orig
inal beet sugar senators, while osten-
sibly supporting the president, are
secretly doing everything they can to
thwart him. An extra session Of the
senate is not by any means certain, but
on the other hand. 1t is well within the
range Of possibilities.
Cabinet. Discusses Situation.
Discussion of the Panama canal sit
uation consumed a large portion Of the
time of President Roosevelt and cab
met at today's meeting. At conclusion
Of the meeting 1t was stated no in
formation could be made public at this
time regarding the negotiations.
Some apprehension was expressed
lest the two important treaties pend
ing In the senate might not be ratified
legislative tangle in the senate, but nc
information received today by the presi-
dent makes him hopeful of solution OF
! the entire legislative problem now con-
fronting the senate.