Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-20
House Passes Bill Providing
for Joint Statehood.
Oklahoma and Indian Territory
Arizona and New Mexico.
Question Of Additional Accommodations
Engrosses Upper Branch.

sion. the House. today, passed the bill
providing for jOint statehood of Okla.
| homa and Indian territory, under tn.
| name of Oklahoma, and Of Arizona and
New Mexico under the name of Art.
IONA.
In discussing the rule which had beer
reported by the committee on rules
providing for immediate consideration
Of the bill Williams. the minority lead.
er. declared that no republican had an,
idea that the bill would become law a,
this session. Delegate Wilson of Ari.
IONA opposed the bill 1t was favored
by delegates Ready of New Mexico and
Mcclure of Oklahoma.
Soon after the House met today
Dalzell, Penna., presented a rule fol
the immediate consideration Of the
statehood hill. Following a brief ex-
PLANTATION of the bill by Dalzell. vii.
liams. Miss, the minority leader
charged that the bill was but a pretex,
to stay the demand of the territories
for admission. He expressed the opin-
ion that the Republicans had no idea
OF passing the bill at this session OF
in fact any idea that it would pass at
al.
In opposing the rule Moon. Tenn,
declared that the bill was an intensely
wicked and partisan measure which f
passed would violate the plighted faith
and honor of the United States to the
five civilized tribes of Indians in the
matter OF treaty obligations.
He inquired of the Republicans II
h,1N 70 n In
violation Of their party platform ana
that of treaty obligations.
Denying that the Republicans had
been guilty OF bad faith. Dalzell justi-
fled the measure On the ground that
we are endeavoring to sustain the re-
lative power of the Senate and House
Of Representatives i'm legislation"
Powers, rep, Maine, defended the
bill.
After the previous question had been
ordered. l31 to 123 a party vote. the
yeas and nays were ordered on the
adoption NJ the rule. The rule was
adopted. $50 To III. 4 strict party vote.
The bill then was taken up. the rule
requiring the vote to be taken at i.3O
o'clock today. with no opportunity for
amendment.
Spalding, n. D., of the territor les
committee. complained the conditions
which led the committee to recommend
that two states out of four territories,
and Sterling, Ills, also defended the
bill
In opposing the union of Arizona and
New Mexico. Wilson, Arizona. declared
that such union against the will of the
people was ultra Radical in policy and
was political revolution in both legisla-
ton and policy.
Curtis, Kansas. insisted that the In
dams of the five civilized tribes and the
whites of the Indian Territory were
ready for statehood with Oklahoma.
Mcclure. Kkla.. declared that should
it pass there would not be vote
against it either in Oklahoma or Indian
Territory.
The Republican opposition to the bill
came from Needham. Cali. who, while
entering no protest against the union of
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, vigor-
ously attacked the proposition for joint
statehood of Arizona and New Mexico.
Grosvenor. Ohio. was open in his ex-
pressions of disapproval of the bill, but
said that as the United States was
country Of parties and as parties spoke
through caucuses, he would vote for
the bill.
The debate was closed by Rodney, n.
NJ. who said that while the bill did not
suit the people in his territory, they
nevertheless acquiesced in It,
The third reading of the bill had been
directed by the speaker, whereupon
Moon inquired if he third reading was
to be by title only.
In the midst of an elaborate discus
sion. the speaker turned to the parlia-
mentarian, Mr. Kinds, for further adj
vice. and then announced that he would
resolve the whole question in favor Of
the individual privilege of each MEM
Der. any of whom could demand the
reading of the bill.
Williams, the minority leader, jocu-
larry inquired if the Speakers decision
had been arrived at after consulta-
ton
The Speaker promptly replied that II
had been and set the House in an up
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