The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-20
JOINT STATEHOOD
 |S PROVIDED FOR Oklahoma and Arizona Will be
 the Names DEMOCRATS FIGHT THE BILL House Is convlused With Laughter By Sally Between MT. Williams,
 the Minority Leader, and
 Speaker Cannon.
DEMOCRATS FIGHT THE BILL

| Washington, April 19.-After a debate extending through the entire session. the house today passed the bill providing for joint statehood of Oklahoma and Indian | Territory under the name of Oklahoma, and of Arizona and New Mexico under | the name of Arizona. In discussing the rule which had been reported by the committee on rules, providing for imme- | diate consideration of the bill, MT, Will Hams of the minority leader declared that no republican had any idea that the Dill would become law at this session Dele gate Wilson of Arizona, opposed the bill It was favored by delegate Rody of New Mexico and Dedeage McGuire of Okla | homa-
 Soon after the house met today Mir. Dalzell of Pennsylvania presented rule | for the immediate consideration for the statehood bill following brief explana- tion of the bill by Mir. Dazell, MT. Wil- Hams of Mississippi. the minority leader, | charged that the bill was but pretext to stay the demand of the territories TOT 1 admission. He expressed the opinion tthat the republicans had no idea Of pass ing the bill at this session, or in fact | PhSe
 The bill, he said. simply was apples to the eye and ashes to the taste" and of fered in such a form that 1t was known | beforehand 1t could not receive the ap- probation and votes of the minority In opposing the rule, MT. Moon of Ten | nessee declared that the bill was an in- tensely wicked and partisan measure, which, if passed, would violate the plight ed faith and honor of the United States to the five civilized tribes of Indians in the matter of treaty obligations. He in- ouired of the republicans if they were go- | ing to pass the bill in violation of their party platform, and of treaty obligations.
 Would Take Its Course.
 Denying that the republicans had been guilty of bad faith, MT. Dalzell said the i bill would take its course as party measure because 1t was reported by the majority of the committee, submitted to party caucus, and came into the house | pursuant to rule adopted by that cau- l GUS. He justified the measure on the ground that we are endeayoring to sus- tain the relative power of the senate and the house of representatives in legisla- 1 tion."
 Mir Powers, republican, of Maine de- tended the bill, which, he said, furnished the only solution of the statehood ques- ton that had any prospect of passing the present congress-
 | After the previous question had been ordered, 137 to 123. party vote, the yeas and nays were ordered on the adoption of the ruls. The rule was adopted 150 to Ill, strictly party vote. The bill then was taken up, and the rule requiring the vote | to be taken at 4:30 o'clock today. with no opportunity for amendment
 MT. Spalding of North Dakota of the territories committed, explained the con- lad ha anT aa n m mend two states out of four territories, and MT. Sterling of Illinois also defended l the bill.
 In a brief speech in support of the bill, Mir Curtis of Kansas insisted that the Indians of he five civilized tribes and the whites of Indian territory were ready for statehood, and that 90 per cent of | the Indians were in favor of joint state hood with Oklahoma.
 MT. Grosvenor of Ohio, was open In his expressions of disapproval of the bill | but said that as the United States was a country of parties and as parties spoke through caucuses, he would vote for the | bill He opposed the restriction as to H. literacy and called attention to the ab- sence of any provision against the in- siduous vice of polygamy"
 Speeches In Opposition. 1 Brief but vigorous speeches in opposi- | ton to the bill were made by Messrs. Reid of Arkansas and Lloyd of Missouri l The debate was closed by MT. Rody of | New Mexico. who said that while the bill did not suit the people of his terri | tory, they nevertheless aeduiesced in 1t. | He explained in great detail the re- | sources of both Arizona and his own ter | ritory. and inquired if agriculture alone was necessary to support population. He obtained applause when he cited New ,I1tt ttNx1 | which he said did not produce potato. l Delegate Wilson of Arizona asked if l New Mexico with all her resources would | not prefer individual statehood, to which | MT. Rody replied that his views were well l known, and that if the people did not like the measure they had the privilege of voting 1t down. ''as the election expenses were to be paid by the government" The third reading of the bill had been directed by the speaker, whereupon MT. l Moon inquired if the third reading was to be by title only. In the midst of an | elaborate decision the speaker turned to i the parlamentarian, MT. Hinds, for fur ther advice. and then announced that he | would resolve the whole question In fa- vor of the individual privilege of each member, any one of whom could demand | the reading of the bill.
 convuIsed With Laughter. l MT. Williams. the minority leader, jocn- larly inquired if the speakers decision had been arrived at "after consultation
 The speaker promptly replied that it had been, and set the house in an uproar when he added:
 .eThe skilled parliamentarian who has I been at this desk for many years can | give the chair''-and after a pause-"and | the gentleman from Mississippi cards and spades and then have fountain of parliamentary knowledge left" | It was some moments before the ap- plause and laughter which greeted this l sally subsidized Mir. Maddox of Georgia, demanded the reading of the bill, which was begnu, but later he withdrew his request
 Speaker Cannon further convulsed the | house when he asked:
 "Is there any other gentleman who de- | sires the bill read?"
 No one responded. and the bill was pass ed. 147 yeas to 104 nays, strict party l vote.
 | A senate concurrent resolution was agreed to. accepting the invitation of the officials of the Louisiana Purchase Expo- sitter to attend the opening exercises of 1 the fair.
 At 5:2o o'clock the house adjourned.