New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-16
FIGHT OVER STATEHOOD.
BILLS FATE IN Dol BIT.
Senate Committee Orders FdJOrGbiC
Report by a Close TOtc.
FFRou THE TRIBUNE BrREAU.l

Washington. Dec. 15-An animated debate On the
Statehood BILL which will he reported to the Senate
tomorrow is insured by the vigorous opposition 81
Senators Alger and Bard. well as "f number
of Democrats. The ground on which the Repuoi-
can Senator's will rest their opposition Is tho pc
culiar wording of tho organic act of the Ierri'ory
of Arizona Attention is called to the fact that
the organic creating other Territories co'@ain
following clause with possible deviations IN inc
wording
Provided further That nothing in this act con.
tanned shall be construed to inhlb the so1[rnmFrt
into more Territories in such m comTsnn
az such t,ine e. F sb,np any portion thereof
to any other Territory or state
In the organic act of Arizona, approved February
a. 1853 the above clause is omitted and instead the
following is inserted:
Provided further That said goyernmfmt shall he he
maintained and continued until such Lihle a. ~, ~
people residing in said Territory shali, WIN tle
consent Of Congress form state EoVeImnt ti+tion
mission into the Union as state on an cqu'l o''-
ing with the original states
in the light of these facts the Senators named
argue that the United States is pledged by an act
of Congress to make change in the Territory
of Arizona until the consent of a majority OF the
people in the Territory is obtained and that ATT
| iona cannot be added to New-MeXico to form a
single State as is provided for in the Statehood
bill about TO be reported but must be admitted as
Il State equal footing with tho original
| States: in other words, sovereign state OF
| itself
In refutation of this argument, the advocates OF
the Statehood bill call attention to the fact that
| no Congress bind the action OF any succeed
ing Congress, and that were the intent of the
! Congress which passed the organic act of Arizona
such is alleged by the Senator from Michigan
! the present changes need not be submitted to the
| people of Arizona 1t is further said that such
was not the intent of the Congress which passed
! the organic act of Arizona. and that subsequent
| acts OF Congress can be cited in support of this
contention.
| It is conceded. however. that the Senators who
oppose the passage of the Statehood bill have ample
ground which to base extended arguments. and
it is practically certain that the debate which will
/ follow the taking up of the present bill Will be
| long and tedious.
COMMITTEE DIVIDES. TO l.
The Senate Committee on Territories by a vote of
6 10 4. to-day authorized a favorable report the
bill which provides for the admission into the Union
of Oklahoma and Indian Territory To become the
State of Oklahoma. and of Arizona and New-Mexico
| to become the State of Arizona. The bill originated
| in the House in the second session of the 5sth
Congress. but has been amended materially by the
Senate committee. The closeness of the vote prac
| ticaly makes it certain that there will be
minority report. Tomorrow Senator Beveridge
chairman of the committee having the bill in
| charge, will submit the majority report. The bill
will he the unfinished business of the Senate after
J the vote tomorrow the Philippine bill.
Nearly all OF the time since the opening OF the
| present session of Congress the Senate Committee
| on Territories has been work perfcctng the
| House bill. but it not until late to-day that a
! could he had. the deaf tn Of Senator Quay who
had fought persistenty for admission of each of
! the four Territories a separate State leaving
the committee equally divided The vacancy was
filed by the appointment of Senator Dick. Those
who voted for the bill to-day were Senator's Bever-
idge Dillingham;. Nelson Dick. Burnham and
Kean, all Republicans. Senator Bard, Republican.
| voted against the bill, together with Senators Bate
and Newlands Democrats. The fourth vote against
the bill was that of Senator Patterson, who was
absent. but recorded voting Senator Clarke, of
Arkansas. absent also.
The most important changes made in the House
bill are the insertion OF clause prohibiting aftic
liquor for period Of ten years in that part Of
the proposed state Of Oklahoma now known as
Indian Territory. and the elimination from the
House bill of all provisions with reference TO
suffrage. except the following
That said State shall never enact any law re-
stricting or abridgiuE tho right Of suffrage on
account of race. color or previous condition OF
seIYitudc.
As passed by the House, the bill contained OK
ceptions but also specifically permitted the pro
posed States. if they desired. to abridse SUIT
frage on account of sex. The provision as Ia ScH
| caused so many protests from sufra gists
that the committee struck out the provision this
subject thus leaving nothing in 80 hill that might
indicate opinion of any sort on the question OF
| female suffrage
The prohibition provision relative to Oklahoma is
as follows:
That the sale, barter or giving away. except fo'
| mechanical medical or scientific purposes. Of in
toxiCating liquors within that part of the stat
| heretofore known the Indian Territory. other
Indian reservations within said state. be prohibited
for period of years from the date of admis
sion Of said State and thereafter until the legts
lature of said State shall otherwise provide.
Among other amendments made to the House hill
are the following;
Reducing the number Of delegates from the Terri.
tory OF Oklahoma to the constitutional convention
= from 60 to So and increasing the number from the
Der from New Mexico from 20 t. st. and increasing
the number from Arizona from 40 to a.
, Inclusion the University Preparatory School
and the ColOred Agricultural Normal School in tbs
educational institutions 20 be benefited by land
reservations in Oklahoma.
Recurring that any lands sold for the support OF
public schools i'm the state of Okla hCma he solo
a public sale in G0 tracts or less. The pre-
vision giving prefert to the lessee at the time OF
. sale is stricken cut.
speak read and write the English laneuae"
The section has beeu eliminated which provided
, for the cessation of restrictions the alienation
Of allotted lands in oklahoma and Indian Territory
| the admission of these territories State.
The contest over the location Of the circuit and
district of the Western District Of Oklahoma
settled by providing for alternate sessions Of
the courts at Guthrie and oklahoma City.
The provision of the oklahoma bill for the APP
preparation Of $5.N0Ooo for the benefit Of the com
Of the bill which admits New-MeNco aud Arizona
| n state.
|