The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-05
STATEHOOD BILL
BEFORE SENATE
Mr.. Nelson Makes Strenuous
Plea for Measure
Mr.. BATE WANISM0RE TIME
Union of Arizona and New Mexico Is
a Greater Area Than New Eng
land, With New York, Penn
sylvanla and New Jersey.
Mr.. BATE WANTSM0RE TIME

| Washington, January 4.-Upon recon-
vening today after the holiday recess the
Senate plunged directly into the consid-
Grafton of the bill for the admission of
| two states to be composed of Arizona
| and New Mexico and Oklahoma and In
dian Territory. A motion by Mr.. Bever-
idge to take up the bill prevailed by
two-thirds majority. Mr.. Hepburn, who
renewed his effort to get up the pure
| food bill, voted with the democrats on
| one roll call, but with this exception the
republicans voted solidly to proceed with
the consideration of the statehood bill
and the democrats solidly against that
| course. A motion Dy Mr. Bate to recon-
NIT was voted down.
Mr. Nelson spoke at length in advocacy
of the bill.
The reading of the statehood bill being
concluded, Mr.. Bate moved to recommit
that measure because the testimony taken
before the committee ON territories had
not been reported, rendering 1t difficult
to render a minority report.
Democrats Could Not Attend.
Many of the sittings of the committee,
Mr.. Bate SAID, had been held when the
Senate was In session, and This with other
circumstances had prevented the atten-
dance Democratic Senator's He plead
ed against undue haste in The matter and
entered upon an argument against the
consolidation of the four territories into
two states. Referring to the proposed
union of Arizona and New Mexico, he
said they would make a state of greater
area than is comprised in all the New
| England states with New York, New Jer-
| sey and Pennsylvania added. The only
reason for the consolidation was found,
| he said, in the desire to prevent in
| crease of United States senators.
| Mr. Beyeridge said all the members of
the committee on territories had been
notified of the committee meetings, and
that failure to attend was the future of
| the individual members. He also said
| that the fact that the house had not
ntde full report of testimony, render
! ed a similar report by the Senate I'M
necessary.
Mr.. Bate admitted that due notice of
meetings had been given. "rhey wanted
us to help make a quorum, he said, but
we did not come up with the ante" The
reference to the venerable Senator to a
popular game caused a smile around the
| chamber. His motion was voted down.
| 10 to 81, Mr.. Hepburn voting with the
| democrats for recommittal.
Nelson Supports Bill.
Mr. Nelson supported the bill as report
ed by the committee. Referring especially
t., the territories of Oklahoma and In
dian Territory, he said they were so
| constituted as to be the complement each
OF the other.
Explaining the grant of the land for
schools Mr.. Nelson said that the entire
state would get the benefit of the grant
| to Oklahoma.
| Mr. Foraker, and Mr.. Bailey united in
asking questions concerning that provis-
ion referring to the Oklahoma school
lands which have already been granted,
| and Mr. Bailey suggested that it might
| lead to future trouble.
Mr. Nelson said the reiteration was
merely for the purpose of makiIs as
| surance doubly sure.
| In considering the provisions of the
bill relating to New Mexico and Arizona
| he quoted statistics to show that the
| growth of both territories had been slow
and was still meagre. He estimated the
! present population of the two territories
a 900 or less. He admitted that a
large percentage of tn people of Arizona
were Americans, while many of those of
New Mexico were Mexicans. He Cid not
| admit however, that a majority of the
| New Mexico people were Mexicans. and
he also contended that there no
real enmity between the two nationali-
ties.
/ Mr. Nelson had not concluded, when,
on Motion of Mr.. Culom, the Senate
at 415 p. M, adjourned out of respect
to the memory of Representative Maho-
ney of 1llionois.