Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-06
SENATORS DISCUSS
STATEHOOD BILL
NELSON CONCLUDES SPEECH
lNITS SUPPORT
Measures for Reorganization Of Med
oial Corps Of Army and Regus
lstne Promotions of Of
fleers Are Passed
by Associated Press.

by Associated Press
WASHINGTON. Jan. 5.-The joint
statehood bill again today occupied
the major portion OF the attention OF
the senate and MIR. Nelson completed
his speech in support of It, The om-
nibus claims bill was read in part, but
no effort was made TO secure action
on it. Bills for the reorganization OF
the medical corps of the army and
regulating promotion of army officers
in the ordnance department were
passed.
In the course of his address Mr..
Nelson was interrupted by a number
of senators, among them being Mr..
Foraker, who called attention to the
proviso to the act of the territory of
Arizona continuing it as such.
as that provso in the nature of a
pledge for the continuance of the ter
ritory as it was created as such until
it should be transformed into a state?"
asked the Ohio senator. but Mr. Nell
son did not assent to the proposition.
But" he said. "even If it was a
pledge it was not an irrevocable one,
for congress remains absolutely in
control of the territories until they
| become states, so that it is perfectly
competent to change boundaries if de-
sired to do So"
Mr.. Nelson argued that while New
Mexico and Arizona cover an extended
area, the section has been backward
in development, and will continue to
be owing to the lack of moisture.
He did not admit, as was suggested
by Mr.. Foraker, that the backward
ness was due to the presence of hostile
Indians or the existence of Mexican
land grants. He read a letter from
Director Wolcott of the geological sur
vey saying thai only about 100000
acres of land in Arizona and New
Mexico, or one per cent of the total
area, was under irrigation or capable
of irrigation.
| Messrs Newlands and Hepburn join
ed in the debate, asking Mr.. Nelson
concerning conditions in the territor-
les of New Mexico and Arizona, and
indicating objection to their union. Mr..
Nelson maintained that joint state
hood will be best for all the people.
He concluded at p. m., and the
senate went into executive session.
At 4:1O the doors were opened and the
statehood bill was laid aside Temporal
rily in order to allow the omnibus
claims bill to be partly read.
A resolution reported by Mr.. Bur-
rows from the committee on privileges
and elections fixing o'clock on Feb
ruary for the canvass by the two
houses of congress of the vote cast at
the last presidential election was agreed
| to.
In connection with the consideration
of IL bill concerning the rental of consul
quarters Mr.. Teller called attention to
the need of more consular offices in
Mexico. Mr. Cullom. as chairman of
the committee on foreign relations,
promised the matter should have at
tention.
The bill was passed.
The following bills also We're passed:
Prescribing means for the promotion
of army officers of the line while on
duty in the ordnance department and
fixing the number of officers of all
grades in that corps.
Providing for the reorganization of
the medical department of the army,
creating a reserve corps and doing
away with most of the contract sur
geons.
The credentials of Murphy j. Foster
as senator from Louisiana were pre-
sented and placed on file.
Senator Bard introduced a bill in the
senate today providing for the disposal
of lands acquired under the provisions
of the reclamation act Under the Dill
all lands susceptible of irrigation py
means of works constructed under the
reclamation act of June II, 1902, which
are unsurveyed may be subdivided in
TIE same manner as other public lands.
The secretary >of the interior is author
lied to lease any lands proposed to be
Utilized for irrigation works during
such times as the lands may not be
peeded.
The prospects are that this session ot
congress will not pass a river ana
harbor bill. The committee on rivers
and harbors has been considering
bill for some time with a view to max
ing an early report, but among the
leaders of the house there is a dsposl-
ton to let the bill go over for this
Sc ssion on account Of the condition OF
the treasury. Cdtting off of a river
and harhor bill would be in line With
the determination of the house leaders
to adhere to policy of strict economy
in government expenditures.
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