New-York tribune., 1905-02-11
STATEHOOD BILL. DEAD.
KILLED IN CONFERENCE.
House Bill or Nothing" the Ulti-
matum to the Senate.
TFRoM THE TRIBUNE RuREAu.l

iFRoM INV TRIBUNE ECREAU-l
washington. Feb. 10-As a result of the three
hours conference of the Republican members of
The House to-day the fate of the Statehood bill
S apparently sealed ard the measure as
amended by the Senate will either slumber
peacefully until the end OF the session in the
Committee on Territories or it will be brought
out 10 be slaughtered in conference by dis
agreement OF the conferrees Friends of the
bill regard the situation hopeless. Delegate
Rodey. Of New Mexico declared tonight that
The President would decline to sign the measure
as il came from the Senate even if the House
could be persuaded TO concur in the amend
ments. The conference adopted the following
resolution by vote of H. TO 33:
Resolved. That it is the sense Of this con-
ference that the action and policy of the Repub
lican caucus held on April L. 1904 touching the
admission OF Oklahoma and the Indian Territory
as one State and New-Mexico and Arizona as
one state. provided in the bill OF the House
No 1919. which bill has been amended by the
Senate and is now pending in the House Com
rnittee on Territories be insisted on and that
we insist on such parliamentary proceedings as
can be had by a majority of the House, or a
snecial order as can be made and adopted by a
majority Of the House. under which the afore-
said policy OF the Republicans of the House will
be worked out
SPEAKER CANNoN's RESOLUTION.
Speaker Cannon is the author of the resolu-
ton. The thrty-three Republicans who voted
against it declare that they are not bound by
the action Of the conference. and will vote as
they wish when the rule is brought before the
House. BY voting with the Democrats. who will
solidly oppose the rule. they can, of course, de-
feat II, for IL would require only sixteen Repub-
licsns with the minority vote 10 control the
House on this proposition. 1t is pointed out
however that this would be an empty victory
for the friends of Statehood. for, the bill will
not be before the House at any time, it would
then remain in committee where it now reposes
indefinitely. If the solid Republican vote should
be cast for the rule, the result would be to send
the bin direct from the Committee on Territories
Z, conference with instructions that the House
conferrees insist the provisions of the bill as
II passed the House They would then face the
apparently insurmountable obstacle of forcing
the Senate TO recede from its position.
When the conference opened three propo-
stions were laid before It The first was a reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Dalzell. reciting the his
tory OF the Statehood legislation in the House
and reafIirming the caucus action taken at that
time Another was resolution by Mr.. Sibey.
Of Pennsylvania, providing that the Statehood
bin he made the subject of conference between
the two houses The third amendment
10 this resolution. offered by Mr.. Tawney, adding
that in such conference the House conferrees be
instructed 10 insist on the provisions of the
House bill No vote taken on any of these
propositions.
Delegate Rodey. of New-Mexico. made a
strong appeal for concurrence in the Senate
till He did not. however make any motion to
This effect Other speeches were made by Messrs.
Dalzell Of Pennsylvania: Hamilton. of Michi-
gan. chairman Of the Committee on Territories;
Powers. Of Maine, and Delegate Mcclure, of Ok
lahonla. who pleaded for action by which at least
Oklahoma and Indian Territory might be admit
ted Speaker Cannon occupied the floor at
length TWO occasions Other eakers were
Nessrs. Hepburn Tawney, Burkett, Needham
Brick and Gaines. of West Virginia.
The debate was keyed in a high pitch AT all
times The ground was taken by those who
favored The House provision nothing that the
Republicans Of the body would be sacrificing
their position taken heretofore TO a few Republi-
Senator's who had seen fit to unite with the
minority Of the Senate If the dill amended
were accepted
BINDING EFFECT OF CAUCUS.
definition Of what is considered the binding
feature Of a caucus was made TO those mem
bers who have indicated an intention to vote
with the Democrats should opportunity arise for
the acceptance Of the Senate bill This def1ni-
tion was that unless a member gives notice III
caucus that he will not be bound by the action
taken he must consider himself bound thereby.
At the Republican caucus April Is. when the
House bill was agreed on as the measure TO be
supported, there was member who indicated
his unwillingness 10 be bound by the caucus 5
action This binding feature of caucus. II was
which the caucus occurs, and the statement
vas made that Republican member of the
House now can consider himself free to support
the Senate Statehood proposition
There is some talk that the Senate might ac-
cept the House bill and negotiations with this
end in view have been III progress To make 1t
impossible for the House committee ia ke any
action until understanding has been
reached, the committee al its meeting yesterday
adjourned 10 meet at the call OF the chairman,
and no meeting viii be held until q call has been
issued.