Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-20
The Statehood Question Before
the Senate.
SELECTING oonFEREEs
SENATORS eoRMAn AND TELLER
DISCUSS THE MATTER.
Disputed Which Aspect Of the Case
Should Be Maintained by the
.s...s senate's Representatives.

ihefe was quite long discussion In the
senate this afternoon on the appointment
OF conferees on the statehood bill. Messrs.
German and Teller maintaining that the
conferees should represent the sentiment of
the Senate as shown by the bill. which
| finally passed that body and~which provid-
ed for the admission of Oklahoma and In
dian territory as one state. and New Mexi-
co another, leaving Arizona as a territory.
NO action had been taken on the statehood
bill at 2 O'Clock, when it was displaced by
the impeachment trial Of Judge Swayne
Statehood was before the Senate for one
hour today, which time was consumed by
Senators German and Teller in discussing
the motion offered by Senator Beveridge
that conferees be appointed to confer with
the House conferees on this bill.
Senator German opened this discussion
with careful statement OF his views In
reference to the decision of the presiding
office Saturday to the effect that the mes
sage from the House asking a conference
on this bill was a privileged question and
one that should be acted upon without the
necessity for unanimous consent.
Senator German Saturday took the posi-
ton that except by unanimous consent the
message from the House should lie over
until the next legislative day. Today he
said he wished to correct that statement
to the extent that he had found one prece-
dent in 1873 which was a decision in line
with the decision of the president of the
Senate Saturday. The decision OF 1873. he
nized urgency for the passage of reve-
nue. measure only few days before the
end OF the short session Of Congress.
-,- Senator Germans Suggestion.
Senator German then suggested that in
the appointment of the conferees on the
statehood bill the chair would have a very
delicate duty to- perform. He reviewed the
usual course that had been adopted in the
appointment Of such conferees, saying that
in late years 1t had been customary to ap
point to such conference committees the
chairman of the committee having charge
of the bill, the next ranking member of the
majority and the leading member of the
minority on the committee. But in this
case, in which the bill as passed by the
Senate was one that was opposed by the
two members of the majority, 1t became
necessary to change it's procedure In order
to represent the Senate on the conference
committe with men thoroughly in sympathy
with the bill as passed.
It would not be without precedent he
said, for the chair to do so. and he hoped
when the time came that the conference
committee would include two members
who were known to be earnestly in favor
of the bill as passed by the Senate.
He was followed by Senator Teller. who
spoke partly on the same line, and con-
tinued until the statehood bill was dis
2 O. clock. and which throws this question
over until tomorrow, when it will be taken
up Immediately after the routine business
of the morning has been finished.
The situation of the statehood bill this
afternoon was quite generally recognized
as being precarious 1t is generally under
stood that unless this bin comes back from
the conferees with such a recommendation
as will be- agreeable to democrats and re-
publicans who formed the majority in the
vote for the bill as finally passed there is
likely to be extended debate which will eff
fectually prevent action in this Congress.
At the same time it is we'll understood
that the democrats and republicans favor
ing the bill as passed by the Senate would
be ready to accept one or two propositions.
They would agree to the passage of the bill
for the admission of Oklahoma and Indian
territory, with the provision for New Mex
leo stricken out, That would allow them in
the admission of New Mexico and Arizona
as separate states. There is a strong senti-
ment favoring cutting out the eighteenth
section. the provision by which the state OF
Utah will take in strip of Arizona.
If this Is not acceptable it is understood
that friends or the bill in the form in which
1t was passed by the Senate would accept
the House bill. provided it included the For
aker amendment, which allows New Mexico
and Arizona to vote separately for admis-
sion to statehood one state so that If
either of the territories votes against such
admission of a state to be made of the two
territories that provision for statehood
will be thrown out.
Many Conferences Held.
There were many conferences this after
noon, in order. if possible. to obtain some
tacit understanding by which the statehood
bill might be passed. The ease with which
the entire time, allowed for the considera-
ton of this measure disposed of today
suggested forcby the power that lies in the
hands of senators to discuss the bill to such
an extent that its reference to conference
at all cannot be reached
At any rate, it is we'll understood that
a report from the conferees if not salts
factory to those who oppose the House bill
will simply be subject for extended de-
bate.
The Senate cannot instruct its conferees
They must go into conference free to act
as they see best. The absolute necessity
of that course was today pointed out by
Senator German. But nevertheless 1t is
quite possible to have such tacit under
standing that the conferees will be able
to know what report be brought In
with a possibility of adoption.
The first part of the session of the SEN
ate today was devoted to routine business
| number of bills were passed
| Among the bills passed was one author
izing the conveyance to New York city of
part of the United States lighthouse prop
erty there for street widening purposes
Also authorizing the construction of a
railroad bridge across the White river in
/ Indiana Authorizing the award of bronze
medals of honor to persons displaying con-
spicuous bravery in saving lives in railway
wrecks. which measure had passed the
House.
A substitute af9r House bill relating to
the CONSTRUCTION OF a dam and reservoir
for irrigation purposes on the Rio Grande
in New Mexic0swas passed
The motion for a conference on the
statehood bill vas then considered.
In