Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-24

The democrats of the Senate, In caucus
assembled, today refused to take the gold
brick which the republicans offered them
IN regard to the statehood BILL and passed
the aforesaid gold brick along to the state
hood republicans. The gold brick at present
IL resting on the table, neither side being
inclined to take it, and no faction In the
Senate being willing to assume the role of
the guileless "come-on"
Last night the republicans of the Senate
reached unanimous agreement upon the
form Of a compromise Of the statehood bill
proposed TO be offered to the democrats.
The compromise followed the general out
line published In The Star yesterday; in
brief to wit, for the admission of New
Mexico and Arizona as one state after the
next presidential election; the separation
of Arizona into a separate state when
majority OF the population of several hun
dred thousand should so vote: the admis-
sion of Oklahoma as state after the presi-
Dental election, with Indian territory to
come In In 1906, and the creation of a school
fund of ST, 100000 for Indian territory.
The republicans knew at the time that
these terms would not be acceptable to the
democrats. 1t was republican proposition
pure and simple, and contained absolutely
not one bit of compensation to the demo-
CTdtS. II 1uedpl LHe ellHrludlloH VI CHe tcA.
ritorial vote in the next presidential cleo
ton, and meant the election Of four re-
publican senators.
Plan of Republicans.
In proposing the compromise, including
provisions which they knew would be un-
acceptable to the democrats, the repub-
Hcans expected that the proposition would
be refused today, and that then the onus
for the defeat of statehood legislation could
be laid upon the democrats, and that the
people of the territories and the country at
large interested in statehood would charge
the democratic party with its failure to ac-
cept the compromise for the admission of
the territories.
The outline of this agreement waS.handed
to Senator Bate last night and c4neus of
democratic senator's was called Tor this
morning 1t assembled at 1920 O'clock in
Senator Jones conference room, aud con-
tinued until u o'clock. The democrats
unanimously refused the compromise offer;
they decided to attempt to push a vote on
the Littlefield antitrust BILL they also di-
rected the minority Of the committee on
post offices and post roads to canvass the
republican senators in favor of statehood
to see IL the republicans would vote with
the democrats to attach the statehood rider
to the post office appropriation bill.
The last move was a great surprise to
the republicans. They had been led to be-
lieve that some of the most conservative
democrats would vote against the state
hood rider and that it would be impos-
sible to put that rider onto the appropria-
tion bill. 1t was this information which led
the republican managers to attempt the lit
tie political play of putting the democrats
IN the hole by refusing the compromise
Turned the Tables.
The democrats now have turned the ta-
bles upon their opponents. BY deciding to
support the omnibus statehood rider. IL the
statehood republicans will agree to support
1t, they have put themselves squarely on
record as being willing to go to extremes
in behalf of legislation for the admission
Of the territories to statehood. Further
more. If their proposition is rejected by the
eighteen republican senator's who have
been standing for statehood, the democrats
say it will relieve the democratic party Of
the responsibility for failure of statehood
plans.
1t is well known that the statehood repub-
licans do not want the rider attached to
the appropriation bill. 1t would mean the
defeat OF the appropriation bill, either in
the Senate or by presidential veto, and a
possible extra session of Congress The
democrats knew very well when they made
the offer to vote for rider that their re-
publican allies would not accept it,
Proposition Submitted.
iAe following is the exact copy of the
proposition submitted by the republicans
and considered by the democratic caucus
today and which was rejected by the eau
GUS. 1t is the outline of the compromise
bill which the committee on territories now
Is drafting. and upon which the republicans
OF the Senate will insist:
''First-Oklahoma to be admitted as a
state on proclamation by President after
next election for President
'Second-Act to provide that Indian ter
ritory Is annexed to Oklahoma, the annexa-
ton to u Ike effect March 4, 1906. which
date the people and territory of the Indian
territory shall become Incorporated into the
state of Oklahoma as fully to all intents
and purr oses as II they were Immediately
incorpora ted therein by the act.
''Third--The constitution of Oklahoma is
TO be reI ublican in its form and to contain
the irrey ocable consent OF the people and
state to the incorporation in said state as
provided In this act.
"Fourth-Provisfon that in (bank) months
after March A. 1906. constitutional conven-
ton shall be called In the state Of Okla
homa, including the people absorbed from
what Is now the Indian territory in which
all OF the people shall be represented This
to give the people In Indian territory an op-
portunity TO participate I'm making the origi-
nal laws under which they are to live.
'Fffth-The constitution then framed to
contain an apportionment dividing the ter
ritory into senate and assembly districts in
cluding the Indian territory. the apportion-
ment and districtng to be according to
population as nearly as practicable
'Sixth-The constitution then adopted to
provide also for the first meeting of the
legislature. which shall include senators and
representatives elected under said appor-
tionment and districting
Seventh-The capitol and other public
buildings to remain as now located I'm Okla
homa until the first session of the legisla-
ture after the absorption March L. 1906
18th. Until March 4. 1906 the laws in the
Indian territory and the judicial and other
administrations thereof to remain as now
except as the same may be modified BY
Congress before March A. 1906
9TH. School money to eQualize Oklahoma
and indian territory to be appropriated to
Oklahoma taking effect March A. 1906
10th. Arizona and New Mexico to be ad-
mitted as the state Of Montezuma with pro.
vfso that when the state OF Mof,fezuma shall
have 100000 population and the portion now
Arizona shall have 100000 and a majority
OF the voters OF the state shall vote In favor
thereof the portion of the state now Ari.
xona shall be entitled to be admitted as
separate state subject to the approval OF
the Congress. the population to be ascer.
tanned by census provided for by Con-
gress.
'11th. The state Of Montezuma to be ad