Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-01-22
THE WEST AT
WASHINGTON
Senator Quay Has introduced a
Bill to Admit Oklahoma and
Indian Territory as
One State.
MONDELL LAND BILL
1t Is Reported FavorabIy From the
House Committee.-.The Statehood
Situation Discussed.

The following dispatches from
: Washington refer to western interests
and are of especial interest to New
Mexico.
Senator Quay introduced a bill this
week providing for the admission Of
Oklahoma and Indian Territory as one
state
Postmaster General Payne this
week said there was nothing to bar
pOstmasters or other federal Office
holders from serving as delegates to
political conventions, national state
or county. Still the administration
prefers that others than federal office
holders be sent to the national con-
vention at Chicago.
The United States is about to make
arrangements with the government
and railroads of Mexico by which the
Rio Grande border can be protected
by the immigration authorities of this
country. Special Inspector Marcus
Braun of the department of commerce
and labor, who has been at Ell Paso
, investigating charges against the local
immigrant inspectors, left yesterday
for Mexico City, to make arrange
ments for the placing of United
States inspector at all the ports of en-
| try of Mexico to examine the immi-
'grants as they land.
The plan is to be similar to that
now in vogue in Canada, and the pur-
pose of the department is TO prevent
undesirable immigrants from leaving
Mexican ports for the United States
border. The railroads of Mexico will
be asked to cooperate by refusing To
sell tickets to immigrants who are re-
jected by the inspectors This plan, it
is believed will greatly decrease the
work of the border guards.
The House public lands committee
yesterday authorized Representative
Mondeli TO report fayorably his bill
providing that public lands chiefly val
liable for timber shall not be subject
| to location or selection in lieu of
tracts relinquished within forest re-
serves, and that selections made or
sought to be made on lands chiefly val
liable for the timber they contain in
lieu of lands within forest reserves
shall be void and of no effect.
Mr. Mondell says the bill has the
approval of the interior department
which in the report made to the pub
lie lands committee upon it said that
the area of forest reserve lands now
actually created exceeds 63000,000
acres with the addition of large tenn
porary Withdrawals for future incor-
poration in reserves. He called atten-
tion to the fact that under the pres
ent law all private holdings within re-
serves may be made basis for appro-
priation of like area of lands outside of
reserves. The tendency and practice
is to appropriate timbered lands in lieu
of those surrendered whether the lat
ter are timbered or denuded, and the
experience of the general land office
shows that great areas OF valuable
timber lands have been acquired in
exchange for lands included in re-
serves, and from which timber has
been stripped.
At the present time, various rail-
roads with land grants embraced IN
forest reserves have 2,500,00O acres OF
land available as basis for making
lieu land selections. Much Of this land
is devoid of timber. but under the
present laws it may be exchanged for
timber lands. Advantage has
been taken of the present law relating
to lieu selections, and great areas of
worthless land have been turned over
to the government in exchange for
lands containing valuable timber. 1t
is expected that the Mondell bill will
continuation of these abuses.
Pursuant to the suggestion of Gov
ernor Brodie of Arizona in circular
etter, the board of supervisors of
Maricopa County has called six mass
meetings to be held tomorrow in diff
erent towns of the county, to protest
lgainst Joint statehood with New
Iexico. Petitions will be presented for
he signatures of citizens and then for
varded to Washington.
With the conclusion of the hearings
efore the House committees on terri
cries on the several statehood bills
low before Congress. the friends of
tatehood are hopeful that favorable
ction will be secured during the pres
mt session.
Five statehood bills are pending:
Delegate Wilson's granting separate
tatehood to Arizona; Delegate Ro-
ey's a second. granting separate
tatehood to New Mexico; Delegate
IcGuire's, third. granting separate
to Oklahoma, with the pro-
ision that Congress may at any time
ttach any part or all of the Indian
'erritory to the state of Oklahoma.