The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-16
VIII be Known as Oklahoma
 and Arizona
COMMITTEE VOTE IS CLOSE
Sale of Liquor Is Prohibited in Indian Territory for a Period of Ten Years After Measure
 Becomes Law.

Washington, December 15.-The senate committee on territories by a vote of six to four today authorized a favorable re- port of the statehood bill providing 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 is the one originating in the house In the second session of the Fifty ninth congress, but has been amended materially by the state committee. The closeness of the vote practically makes it certain that there will be a minority report.
 Tomorrow Senator Beveridge, chairman of the committee having the bill in charge will submit the majority report. The op- ponents will contest it's passage on the floor of the senate.
 The statehood bill will be the unfinish- ed business of the senate after vote is had tomorrow on the Philippine bill
 Nearly all of the time since the open- ing of the present session of congress, the senate committee on territories has been at work perfecting the house bill but it was not until late today that vote could be had. the death of Senator Quay, who fought consistently for ad- mission of each of the four territories as a separate state, leaving the commit tee equally divided. The vacancy was filled yesterday by tle appointment of Senator Dick. Those who voted today for the bill were Senators Beveridge, Dill lingham, Nelson, Dick, Burnham and all nf xnbo ator 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 as voting. Senator Clark of Arkansas was absent also.
 Liquor Traffic Prohibited.
 The most important changes made in the house bill are the insertion of clause prohibiting traffic in liquor for a 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 folowing
 That said states shall never enact any law restricting or abridging the right of suffrage on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude." As passed by the house, the bill contained ex- captions, but also specifically permitted the proposed states, If they so desired, to abridge suffrage on account of sex. The provision as to sex caused so many pro tests from women suffragists that the committee struck out the provision on this subject, thus leaving no reference whatsoever in ihe bill that might indi- cate an opinion of any sort on the ques- tion of female suffrage.
 The prohibition provision relative to laiap ic
 That the sale, barter or giving away except for medicinal or scientific pur- pose. of intoxicating liquors within that part of the state heretofore known as the Indian Territory and Indian reservations within said state, be prohibited for period of ten years from the date of ad- mission of said state, and thereafter until the legislature of said states shall other wise provide"
 Amendments Made to Bill.
 Among amendments made to the house bill are the following:
 "Reducing the number of delegates from the territory of Oklahoma to the constitutional quota of 65, and increasing the number from the Indian territory from fifty to fifty-four; reducing the number from New Mexico from seventy to sixty-six, and increasing the number from Arizona from forty to forty-four.
 Inclusion Of the university prepara- tory school and the colored agricultural normal school In the educational institu- tions to be benefited by land reserva- tions in Oklahoma.
 Requiring that any lands sold for the support of the public schools in the state ot Oklahoma be sold at public sale in 160-acre tracts or less The provisions giving preference to the lessee at the time of sale is stricken out. Requiring that all state officers of Arizona shall speak. read and write the English lam guage.
 The section has been eliminated which provides for the cessation of restrictions upon the alienation of allotted lands in Oklahoma and Indian territories upon the admission of these territories as state
 The contest over the location of the district courts of the western district of Oklahoma was settled by providing for alternate sessions of the courts at Guthrie and Oklahoma City.
 The provision of the Oklahoma bill for the appropriation O. s5,000o0 for the ben eft of the common schools has been in- corporated in the portion of the bill which admits New Mexico and Arizona as a state. |.