The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-08
TWO new STARS
Senate Passes Bill Making Two
New States.
Oklahoma Is One Including
Indian Territory.
NEW MEXICO GETS In.
Arizona VIII Continue as a
Territory a While.
House Probably Will Concur on
Senate's Action.

Washington, Feb. 8.-After one of the
most bitterly contested parliamentary
contests seen on the floor of the senate
for some time, that body rode rough
shod over the committee on territories,
headed by Senator Beveridge which
reported the statehood bill, and passed
an amendment bill giving statehood to
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, joint
ly, with the addition of New Mexico as
an independent state, and leaving Ari-
zOna still a territory.
The most important amendment af-
fecting the proposed state of Oklahoma
was offered by Senator Galiinger, and
championed by Senator Stone of Mis-
souri,, extending the prohibition clause
affecting that part of the state now
known as Indian Territory from 10
years to Il years and applying it to the
entire state, inclusive of Oklahoma
This amendment was adopted by a vote
of 55 to 20.
There is serious doubt in the minds
of many members of congress whether
this is not an arbitrary exercise of
part of opponents of this provision that
it may be killed in conference
There is a strong probability on the
other hand, that the house may concur
in all the amendments of the senate
without sending the bill to conference,
although Senator BeVeridge said that
he believed the house would not concur
in the amendment giving statehood to
but that Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory would not be affected by any ac-
ton that might be taken. There is high
authority for the prediction that the
house will take the same view of the
matter as the majority in the senate
did, and concur in the action of the up
per chamber without much formality.
The senate adopted several amend
mentS by Senator Long in the interest
of educational facilities of the proposed
state, noted further on.
An amendment was offered by Sena-
tor McCumber making one state of ok
lahoma separately, but was lost, as was
the amendment to allow Oklahoma and
Indian Territory to vote separately on
their joint admission. The vote on this
was Al to 81.
How fine the lines We're drawn on the
statehood proposition was shown by
several votes, and if Senator Plat, of
New York, who left the senate chamber
IMPAIRED, had returned earlier by half
a minute, statehood might have come
in some other form, or been defeated
The clOSeneSS of the vote
was shown when the senate voted 80
to SO in favor of Senator Foraker'S mo-
ton to table the Beveridge motion to
reconsider the vote by which New Mex
leo was added to the bill.
The bill authorizes the election of
delegates to a constitutional conven-
ton composed of 100 members, of
whom fifty-five shall be elected by the
people of Oklahoma and ffty-four by
the people of Indian Territory Ok |
lahoma shall be apportioned into fifty |
five delegate districts. including the
Usage reservation, Indian Territory |
into ffty-four delegate districts. The !
ordering All election of
the delegates shall be called by the
governor of Oklahoma together with /
the senior judge in service of the |
United States courts in Indian Terri |
tory, within six months from the |
approval of the act
The capital of the state is fixed at
the city of Guthrie and shall not be |
changed previous to 1910.
The constitutional convention shall /;
meet at Guthrie on the fifth Tuesday |
after their election to adopt the con- |
stitution of the United States and form |
a constitution and state government |
for the proposed state.
The state shall be entitled to five |
elected from the fol- |
lowing defined districts:
District No. 1, comprising the count |
les of Grant, Kay, Garfield, Noble, |
Pawnee, xingfisher, Logan, Payne, 1
Lincoln, and the territory comprising I
the Usage and Kansas Indian reser-
vatiOns.
homa, Canadian. Blaine. Caddo. Gus