The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-07
IMPORTANT
ACTION MAY
BE TAKEN
ReIa i've to Statehood for Terri
tory Of Oklahoma
MATHEWS OF PAYNE co.
introduces a Bill to Arouse
United States Congress.
OTHER LEGISLATIVE WORK
SoIonS Have Strenuous Time
Over Quarantine Bill.
MATHEWS OF PAYNE CO..
OTHER LEGISLATIVE WORK

Guthrie. o. T, March G.-Representa-
five Alatnews Of Payne county, has pre-
pared and is ready to introduce a meas
,re in the lower house Of the legislature
to provide for the formation of con-
stit11tion and state government for the
state of Oklahoma" This bill may prove
to be one Of the important measures Of
the last end Of the legislative session
Mr.. Mathews has had the matter under
consideration for some time, but waited
until after congres sadjourned, in order
to ascertain what would be the final fate
of the omnibus bill. He is confident that
the bill will become a law, and it may
have the effect of fastening statehood
legislation.
The measure provides that on the first
Tuesday of June, 1903. delegates shall be
elected from Oklahoma, and so much Of
the Indian territory as congress hereafter
may see ft to add to the future state
to frame constitution and state govern
ment Oklahoma viii lhave seventy-eight
delegates and the Indian territory the
same number provided as follows: twenty
delegates from the Cherokee nation;
twenty delegates from the Creek nation;
thirty delegates from the Chickasaw ma
ton and Choctaw nations; eight dele
gates from the Seminole nation. The
convention is 10 be held in Guthrie on
the first Tuesday in July, 1893, and on the
ha r
ter is TO be submitted TO a direct vote of
the people Of Oklahoma and the Indian
territory separately.
If the veto OF the people is favorable,
upon receipt of knowledge that an enab-
ling act has been passed by congress shall
issue proclamation for the purpose Of
eIecting state officers, legislature judges
and other officers.
The constitutional convention is to be
OF fifty days duration and all delegates
receive 81 per day and three cents mile
age: $4,000 is the sum appropriated for
the expenses of forming the state organ
ization. Theentire plan is given in the
thirteenth section which reads as fol-
lows
said convention shall by ordinance
e,ibfnit the constitution adopted to the
people of Oklahoma territory and to the
people of such portions of the Indian ter
ritory as may participate in said con-
vention for adoption or rejection. And
the vote upon its adoption or rejection
shall be taken separately thereon by the
people Of oklahoma and the people Of
each Indian nation or people inhabitat-
ing the land Occupied by each Indian tribe
in the Indian territory; and the returns
therefrom shall be made separately upon
said constitution; and said constitution
shan not be adopted by Oklahoma or any
portion Of the Indian territory unless
the people thereof 10y said separate vote
shall indicate their desire 10 adopt said
constitution. and any portion indicating
their desire not 10 adopt said constitu-
ton shall be excluded from boundaries
OF the new state"
Delegates to the convention from the
Indian territory shall rot receive COM
pensation unless some provisions are made
for them by the convention.
Representative Mathews viii rush the
bin through the committee as soon as
possible IN order to have it taken up by
the house.