Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-02-10
Senate Proposes TO Admit New Mexico
and Oklahoma as States.
BILL PASSED BY CLOSE VOTE
Senator Burrows Opposed New Mer'
Ico's Admission on Grounds That
Polygamy Is Practiced Freely There
Rejoicing In New States.

Washington, Feb S-After a contin-
uous sitting Of almost nine hours the
senate at S:45 o'clock last night
passed the joint statehood bill. As
passed, the bill provides for the al
mission OF the states Of Oklahoma, 70
be composed OF Oklahoma and Indian
Territory. and New Mexico, according
10 the present boundaries, with ATT
IONA eliminated.
The long session was characterized
by exciting incidents and many sur
prises. Beginning promptly upon the
converting at IL o'clock, the senat
proceeded TO consider the various
amendments which had Leen suggest
ed by the committee on territories and
which had been passed over. One OF
the first Of these taken up was the
amendment prohibiting the sale OF IN
toxicating liquors, in what is now In
dian Territory, for the next ten years,
and this was displaced with a substi'
tute offered by Mr.. Gallinger, which
extended the amendment TO the entire
state for a period OF twenty-one years,
and this was adopted.
Bard's important Amendment.
The first speech OF the day when
the committee accepted Mr.. Foraker's
amendment providing for a separate
vote by each OF the territories OF Ari'
zona and New Mexico on the consti-
tuition 10 be adopted by the proposed
state of Arizona. That provision had
scarcely been made a part OF the Dll
when Mr.. Bard presented his ameni-
ment. which had been originally OF
ferel by Mr. Patterson and which pro
vided for the admission Of New Mexico
as state without the addition of Ari
IONA This amendment proved TO be
the point around which all the sub
stantial proceedings OF Importance re
volved It was at first adopted by
close vote. This vote was taken Will
the senate was sitting in committee o.
the whole and was reversed in the sen
ate proper bv the close vote OF 81
to 49,
Subsequently the senat4 decided, b.
vote of 9S 10 SO. 10 entirely eliminate
New Mexico and Arizona from the bill
and this result had hardly been an
nounced when Mr. Bard, in slightl'
changed form. renewed his proposition
. for the admission OF New Mexico A
state. and this prevailed by the vot
OF 40 TO 81.
- 81 no q A rfvn.,
from the bill and TO establish a stat
OF New Mexico and another of Okls
homa and Indian Territory. In thi
form the bill passed.
What Burrows Said.
| The Mormon question received a
7 airing during the day. While the prc
! vision for the separate admission c
/, New Mexico was under considerable
! Mr. Burrows. chairman Of the commi
tee on privileges and elections, al
nounced his opposition 10 the bill an
stated II was due TO the prejudice
polvgamy in that territory 10 such a
= extent he considered il unwise to TAX
the administration away from the fe
eral authorities Mr. Dubois. Mr.. NJ
[, Comas and Mr.. Plat Of Connectict
/ referred TO the question OF polygam
d and 10 the revelations before the cor
mittee.
The bill originated in the house an
Il gill go to conference.
Oklahoma City. Feb. s.-The a
nouncement that the United STATE
senate had passed the statehood bi
providing for joint admission Of Ok
= bona and Indian Territory create
great enthusiasm here last night. Pu
:, lie demonstrations of rejoicing toe
place in nearly every city and tow
10 Of both territories.
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