Fergus County argus., 1905-02-15
STATEHOOD
BILL PASSES
0oes Through the Senate by a Small
Majority After a Continuous ses-
sion Of Nine Hours.
ARIZONA Is OUT IN THE COLD
Oklahoma and Indian Territory Make
Up One State and New Mexico
Another-is Much Rejoicing.


tinuous session of nine hours the SEN
ate tonight passed the joint statehood
bill. AS passed, the bill provides for
the admission of the state of Oklaho-
ma. to be comprised of Indian Terri
tory and Oklahoma, and New Mexico
according to the present boundaries,
with Arizona eliminated.
The Proceedings.
Washington, Feb. 7.-On motion OF
Mr.. Kearns, of Utah, the senate adopt
ed an amendment to the statehood
bill, annexing to Utah that part OF
Arizona north of the Colorado river.
Then came the first surprise in con-
nection with the proceeding. This
was the adoption of the amendment
suggested by Mr.. Foraker, providing
for the submission of the constitu-
ton of the proposed state of Arizona
to the voters of the present territory
of Arizona and the territory of New
Mexico.
Mr.. Beveridge had suggested that
the committee amendments should be
passed upon, in order to perfect the
bill, when Mr. Foraker secured rec
Ognition to formally propose his
amendment. This had for weeks been
considered a crucial amendment, and
when it was permitted to go to vote
without a suggestion from any SEN
ator. The surprise was no less when
the supporters of the committee bill
failed TO demand division on the
vote. Mr.. Beveridge, in charge of the
bill. sat in his customary seat on the
front row on the Republican side, but
made no sign. The result created a
ripple of excitement throughout the
senate chamber, and when it subsidized
Mr.. Beverdge, on behalf of the COM
mittee, indicated the purpose of ac.
cepting several amendments suggest.
ed by Mr. Long. One of these pre-
scribeS the proportion of the public
lands to be devoted to the benefit OF
the higher institutions of learning in
the proposed state of Oklahoma. Mr.
Longs amendment then was formally
accepted. The amendment suggested
by Mr.. Long. increasing the donation
to the Oklahoma Agricultural and
Mechanical college from 10000 acres
to 25O,000 acres, was agreed to.
Mr.. Bailey spoke in opposition tt
the union of Oklahoma and Indiar
Territory. He said that, if Texas haC
had sufficient population in the begin
ming, it would in all probability hav,
been divided into five states.
Mr.. Carmack offered an amendment
eliminating the provision in the bill
requiring the adoption of constitu
tion by the state of Oklahoma, man,
of the provisions of which shall d,
irrevocable without the consent of the
United States. The amendment wa!
agreed to on viva voce vote.
Mr.. Bard then proposed an amend
ment, providing for the admission o
New Mexico as state, in accordanc,
with its present boundaries. the effcc
being to eliminate Arizona as par
OF the proposed state. The amend
ment was in the language of tn,
amendment formerly suggested by Mr.
Patterson. and was ofie,e ed as SUI
stitute for the provision in the bill
admitting Arizona and New Mexico
as one state. The reading of tn,
amendment consumed much time an,
was followed with interest as it wa
realized that it probably would ful
nish the first test vote Of the dag
Mr. Bard explained the provision O
the amendment and number Of ser
ators spoke for or against it. Anon
the senators speaking for the amend
ment were Messrs Newlands, Hey
burn, Bailey, Elkins, Morgan, an
among those opposed, Messrs. HoI
kins and Spooner.
Mr.. SpOOner declared that it wa
idle to compare New Mexico with tn
original states. "They did not com
into the union; they made the unioI
New Mexico Is not fit to come int
the union. Her mineral resources ar
bagatelle, her agriculture trifle
her population is not such as to ;u!
tify admission
Mr.. Elkins, replying, said he ha
lived in New Mexico for many year
and knew the people to be in ever
way worthy of statehood. He sal
the Democratic party was keeping ii
pledges by supporting statehood fo
new Mexico. while Republicans wer
violating pledges three times made.
Mr.. Doliver opposed the amen'
Ilent, expressing the opinion tha
there could never be a general civili
alton without rain.
Il have observed" he said "thf
mud and civilization so together
Mr. Foraker spoke for separat
statehood for New Mexico, as did NJ
Teller. Both defended the Spanis
speaking people of New Mexico, sa
ing that they compared favorably wit
the rural people in other section
Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. Clark (Montana
supported the amendment
Mr.. Burrows announced his Oppos
tion to the admission of New MeXit
and based his antagonism on the re
elatlOnS concerning MOrmoniS
which have been made in the case
Senator Smoot before the committt
on privileges and elections, of whiC
he is chairman.
81 cannot vote for the admissiC
of New Mexico" he said, "becau
to take it out of the jurisdiction
the United States and lift it into stat
hood would be to remove the probab
ity of bringing to justice those wi
are violating the law"
The BILL as it stands, he said, re
ognizes the existence of the crime
polygamy in New Mexico, by prOh
iting its practice, admitting that VIII
It becomes a sovereign state it m
remove the restriction and nullify
"This," he said. "brings us face
face with a condition that shor
alarm the country"