Arizona republican., 1905-02-08
Better Than Expected.

ell anu al lHOtlel IC4ilSAlllS III 4lilC5i d
part of the American union.
The statehood bill, as it finally pass
ed the senate last night is more fav-
orabIe 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 PROBABLE
ity that efforts would be renewed in
the next congress to unite the two ter
ritories into one state. AS matters stand
New Mexico takes her place as SOW
ereign state, and Arizona remains as
the only territory within the old boun-
daries 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 substantially as it
now comes from the senate.
Following the usual and necessary
procedure, the bill must be returned to
the house, where it originally passed.
Upon receipt of the amended bill from
the senate, Speaker Cannon will put
the question to the house of represen-
tatives: shall the house concur in
the bill as amended" If the house
votes to concur, the bill is completed
and goes to President Roosevelt for
his signature. II the house votes not
to concur, the senate will be officially
notified to that effect, and a confer
ence asked for. The president pro tenn
pore of the senate will appoint a COM
mittee probably of three senators) to
confer with a committee from the
house. Speaker Cannon will appoint
a committee on behalf of the house.
The majority OF each committee will
be republicans. 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 agree
ment can not be reached in confer
ence. the members appointed to the
conference duty will be discharged,
new committees will be appointed,
and so on until an agreement is reach
ed.
Speaker Cannon is known to be op-
posed to the admission of either New
Mexico or Arizona, and he may appoint
a conference committee the majority
of which viii be firmly opposed to the
inclusion of New Mexico in the bill. In
that case there is a possibility that the
senate through its committee
will recede from it's position
taken last night in favor of statehood
for New Mexico. The vote admitting
that territory was very close-42 to
40-and a conference report in favor
of dropping New Mexico would doubt
less meet the approval of a majority
in the senate.
But the chances seem largely in ia
vor of favorable action in the house to-
ward our sister territory. Congress is
tired of the statehood question, and is
anxious to dispose of it so far as pos
sible. Moreover, the proposed state of
Oklahoma will be democratic by 10000,
and New Mexico is republican From
the partisan standpoint a new republi-
can state should offset a new demo-
cratic 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 territory could be classed as
republican 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 Mex
leo.
1t is to be hoped, for the sake of JUS
tice as we'll as the good of Arizona.
that New Mexico will not be denied
admission. If the bill goes through as