Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-07
58th CONGRESS.
Long General Debate on
the Statehood Bill.
Strong Opposition to Plan Of
Consolidation.
Gen. Beveridge Speaks ForcibIy for
Three Hours-The Proceedings.

" dHHiilStoll. rep. 6.--Ihe long drawn
out general debate on the bill creating
two states out Of thu territories of Ok
lahoma and Indian Tern itory and New
Mexico and RriZona. was concluded. to-
DAY. with speech by Bevcridge which
consumed the greater part Of the days
session. He reviewed the principal az
gumentS in opposition to the bill. Civ
ing special attention to the proposton
to uniting Arizona and New Mexico. He
spoke for almost three hours and clos
ed amid a cordial burst OF applause
from the galleries.
Previous to EeVeri1Gcs speech, For
aker spoke in support of his amendment
10 eliminate Arizona and New Mexico
from the proposition. The only otho~
important business Of the day was the
receipt through the House managers Of
the Houses replication to judge
SWayneS answer in thu Impeachment
trial.
Foraker opposed the cons olidation of
Arizona and New Mexico in to one
state. He said the character of tho PEG
pie compared favorably with those OF
other communities. Speaking of politi
cal corruption. he referred to condi-
tons in Missouri. Delaware. Wyoming.
and Philadelphia. In the case Of Illi-
Eois. he called attention to the charg2
that the privileges dispe nsed by thu
Legislature of The sta are practica,-
ly auctioned off. He made an appeal
for the admission Of New Mexico ana
Arizona as two states.
At O'Clock tine Senate convened as a
court to receiE" the replication of TIL
House of Representa- to Judge
SWayne's answer in the Impeachment
proceedings against HIM. This was pre-
scented by the House me- nagers who
We're present. tosethn" with cOunSellorS
Higgins ana Thurston, Oh behalf If
Judge Swayne.
The ccrcnnnT consumed only ten
minutes. At its conclusion the court al
Journed. until Friday. tho 10th, AMI
when the legislative session was re
stunned Bcverilrn took the floor to make
the closing spe"rh in tn" long debate
on the statehood DILL He advo a:ei the
purpose of the lill as reported by the
committee on territories which pro
vides for tho creation of two states
out of the four remaining territories.
RcVeridge commended that Arizona
and Eew Mexico We" s'nilar in to
graphy and other characteristics and
not naturally separated by mountain
range. He claimed that the creation OF
Arizona Territory has ROT involved any
contract to maintain the boundary
thus blShed, and his argument on
this point caused an interruption by
Alger. who said that people who set
tied in Arizona had Son" there on q
practical contract with the national
government.
Bcverdge replied thai there was Nv
| moro reason Why a rclrutal pledge
| should have broI given to tn people of
Arizona than to those of amy other ter
r;torv. He said that the principal rca-
| son for the original crrati III of the ter
| ritory " Arizona in 1863 was to sup
| NV Offices to defeated congressman.
Bcvcritigc asked Alg'.' how many Of
| the Arizona people hal ever read tn"
| rn-caIlcd pledge Of parptua' autonomy
to that territory and AIGcr replied by
asking how many Of the New Mexico
| ;,rnnlc had read it.
"Whv?" responded Eeveridgc. II
know all that the senate" knows about
it aud know that not che ont % :
| hundred Thousand |"cr read or knew
| anything about it,"
40 doubt replied Algcr. "thc semi
| tor knows all that do and more but
| | know that when | was in Arizona |
| heard a numba~ of men refer to the
| pledgc in a way to show perfect fan'i-
| liarity with it." He added that he had
| become the owner nf considerable prop
"rty in Arizona. which he would sell