Arizona republican., 1903-08-25
Finance and Statehood.

AnoA$S oho StatCuOV0s
 The Hon. B. s. Rodey, territorial dele gate from New Mexico. has not yet forgotten that there was a. statehood struggle in the senate last winter and spring. Nor has he forgotten how the defeat of the omnibus bill was accom- plished.
 Not long ago the New York Conner cial wrote to Mir Rodey as we'll as to other prominent men all over the coun- try, inquiring his views on the subject of currency legislation. MT. Rodey's re- ply can hardly be called responsive. He thanks the Commercial in the first place for the compliment paid him in addressing the inquiry to him. He adds that as delegate his views will not cut much figure in financial legislation, but personally he is in favor of any measure that will afford the relief of which the country is so mucn in need. He concludes that he was in favor of the Aldrich bill which was defeated in the senate near the close of the last session.
 That is about all that MT. Rodey has to say on the subject of financial legis- lation. He believes that the Aldrich bill might have been passed in some form if so much of the time of the sen ate had not been wasted by the friends of that Dill (however he does not mem tion the distinguished chairman of the committee on finance and the author of the bill as one of the leading ob- structionists) in opposing the omnibus statehood bill.
 Says MT. Rodey: About a dozen senators talked the entire second ses- sion of the Fifty-seventh congress against an overwhelming constitutional majority of that body. who desired to pass cur bill, and by their action they defeated mary other meritorious meas ures. including this financial bill. Many of the friends of statehood were in favor of the Aldrich bill, or some bill of the same nature, but told MT. -Aldrich and the supporters of that bill plainly, when an effort was made to pass the financial measure in the clos ing days of the congress, that it would not be permitted at that late day, when the enemies of statehood, who were also supporters of the Aldrich bill, had used the whole session so unjustly and so frivolously in filibustering against the rights of the territories
 = He reverts again for an instant to ha lo;a haf ly, Commercial and reiterates that he is in favor of any bill that will remedy the currency system. He says though that he has not made a study of the subject and does not feel competent to express ans.opinion upon it until he shall have had an opportunity to make a study of 1t or shall have heard the arguments of senators.
 But there is one thing MT. Rodey has made a study of and upon which he feels competent to speak. That Is statehood and the manner in which il was not secured at the last session. He proceeds:
 .'The territories had strength enough in the last congress to pass their bill in the house. and had from eighteen to twenty-two of a constitutional ma jority in the United States senate ready to vote for the bill during the entire session, could a vote have been had"
 MT. Rodey concludes as follows, showing how any useful legislation may be enacted, and that is by pursu- ing a course entirely different from that taken by some of the friends of cur rency legislation in the last session:
 T am inclined to think-although it is but my individual opinion and l am not authorized to speak for anybody as to it-that the friends of financial leg islation who opposed statehood for the territories so consistently last session may be able to render the passage of financial legislation easier by at least ceasing to obstruct the will of a ma jority of congress on the statehood question. It is my belief that the friends of the territories want to see all needed legislation pass at the com Ing congress- IL IS 10 De HOpeu tiidl ht such obstruction will be thrown in the way of a constitutional majority as there was during the last session. The friends of the statehood measure kind ly state to the people in the territorie: that they are in the fight to stay Therefore, the question is not likely tt down. It is up in the national congres: to stay until its advocates carry il through congress. CT it is defeated. l can be disposed of in one week. O. even in one day, if the few men wht are opposing it will simply permit ; vote upon il.
 lit is to be hoped that peace an,