The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1904-02-05
HEARINGS ON srArrHoop BILL.

A pamphlet containing hearings on
statehood bill reached us last week and
we wish it were possible that each and
every one Of our citizens could ohtair
copy OF tire same.
ltpt = A. n,cnardson OF Boswell waet
the its, o appear before the committee
on territoS,ss 10 behalf Of New Mexico
He said tn il would be difficult for
him to add anything to the great vol
nme of data, of testimony, Of history, Of
information, Of facts that had been sub
mitted to previous congresses through
the committee on territories, and would
prefer being questioned as to the adverse
or favorable conditions, adding; 80 Re
verse; say, il the territory has any ad-
verse conditions, In my eyes, having
lived in her borders now for seventeen
years. have not found any" The COM
nittee interrogated Mr.. Richardson at
some length in regards to New Mexico,
her resources and her people, all ques-
tions being answered promptly and in
telllgiby by that gentleman.
Hon. l.. Bradford P rince, ex-governor
and ex-chiet justice OF New Mexico, was
second 10 appear before the committee
on territories and said in part; "Wheu
our excellent delegate to congress, Mr.
Rodey, yesterday urged US to appear, we
understood that it was not that he
wanted us to speak, but rather that We
should be brought here as exhibits in
this case. There happeled to be few
samples of the average population Of
New Mexico in town and he thoIght OF
what had been said as to the llllteracy
OF the people and the fact that they all
lived in adobe house as objections to
statehood, and decided that it might be
well to bring small sample as an ex-
hibit. You have observed that each one
Of us came with newspaper carried
conspicuously in his pocket, indicating
that we knew how to read, and that
each one held lead pencil in his hand,
to suggest that possibly we might know
how TO write. am very glad to be
able to add that every one Of the gentle.
men who are here also has smatteriDg
knowledge Of arithmetic, so all the three
"R's" are represented in our education"
Mr.. Prince was also questioned by the
committee with regards 10 New Mexico y
resources, etc, furnishing volumes of
4 information.
MT. lshmel Sparks, mayor Of the city
of Santa te, WAS third to appear before
the committee on territories aud said
"Mr Chairman and gentlemen of the
committee, do not wish to address the
committee on the question Of territories
l would rather suggest that the com
m!ttee question me in regard to the
territory; and inasmuch as | am not al
we'll versed as the two gentlemen wht
have preceded ne with regards to the
general conditions throughout the entire
territory, and knowing that one of tht
strongest objections 20 statehood is ap
parentiy in regard to the Mexican
people, would suggest that the com
mittee would contine themselves largel,
to that. feel that am well qualified
to answer along those lines" MI
Sparks explained that the Mexican
were native-born people of Spanisl
descent; that about nine-tenths of thes
people speak the English language, an,
that there were very few places in tn
territory where they required the use q
I'm interpreter during eOurt, and tina