Williams news., 1905-02-11
ARIZONA STILL
 A TERRITORY

spoken, and Arizona remains an integral part of the American union.
 The statehood bill, as it finally passed the senate last night, is more favorable to this territory than our people had dared to hope. The most that was looked for was the elimination of both Arizona and New Mexico from the bill, with the consequent probability that eff forts would be renewed in the next congress to unite the two territories into one state. As matters stand, New Mexico takes her place as a soverign state, and Arizona remains as the only territory within the old boundaries of the United States.
 The parliamentary status of the bill is such, however, that the action of the senate is not conclusive Still the probabilities are that the bill will go to the president sub stantially as it now comes from the senate.
 Following the usual and neces- sary procedure, the bill must be re- turned to the house, where it orig inally passed. Upon the receipt of the amended bill from the senate, Speaker Cannon will put the ques- tion to the house of representatives Shall the house concur in the bill as amended?" If the house votes to concur, the bill is complete and goes to President Roosevelt for his signature. If the house votes not to concur, the senate will be offici- ally notified to that effect, and conference asked for. The president pro tempore of the senate will ap- point committee (probably of three senators) to confer with a committee from the house. Speaker Cannon will appoint a committee on behalf of the house. The majori ty of each committee will be repub- licans. The two committees will meet in conference, and endeavor to settle the difference between the two houses. If the two committees are able to report to their respective houses that they have reached an agreement in conference, it is practi- cally certain that their action will be ratified by each house. If an agreement can not be reached in conference, the members appointed to the conference duty will be discharged, new committees will be appointed, and so on until an agree ment is reached
 Speaker Cannon is known to be opposed to the admission of either New Mexico or Arizona, and he may appoint a conference committee the majority of which will be firmly opposed to the inclusion of New Mexico in the bill. In that case there is a possibility that the senate through it's committee will recede from its position taken last night in favor of statehood for New Mex ico. The vote admitting that terri, tory was very close-42 to 40-and conference report in favor of drop ping New Mexico would doubtless meet the approval of 8 majority in the senate.
 But the chances seem largely in favor of favorable action in the house toward our sister territory. Congress is tired of the statehood | question, and is anxious to dispose of 1t as far as possible. Moreover, the proposed state of Oklahoma will be democratic by 10000 and | New Mexico is republican. From the partisan standpoint a new re- publican state should offset a new democratic state-and in the final analysis there is little but politics in statehood questions. There can be no possible doubt that Arizona would have been as fortunate as New Mexico, last night, if this terri tory could be chased as a republi- can territory, That is the way the senate has looked at the question, and the house is likely to be moved by the same political considerations, and assent to the admission of New Mexico.
 It is to be hoped, for the sake of justice as we'll as the good of Ari- zona. that New Mexico will not be denied admission If the bill goes through as passed by the senate the prospects for early statehood for Arizona will be greatly improved. The attention of the country will be concentrated on the claims of this territory hereafter, and a few short