Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-11
STICK BY HOUSE BILL
CONFERENCE OF REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTATIVES.

The republicans of the House of Repre-
sentatives decided In conference yesterday
afternoon that fhe House statehood pro-
vision shall prevail or that no statehood
legislation will be enacted by the present
Congress. The resolution which it is said
sets forth this position, and which was
adopted by a vote of 112 to 80, after three
hours of debate, is as follows:
Resolved. That it Is the sense. OF this confer
rnre that the action and policy of the republican
caucus held April 10, 1904 touching the admission
of oklahoma and the Indian territory as one state
and New Mexico and Arizona as one state, as pro
viied In the bill OF the House No. 1919. which
hIil has been amended by the Senate ard is now
pending In the amended committee on territories
.b Insisted upon and that we insist. on such par
Iiamenary proceedings as can De had oy major
aud adopted by majority of the House. under
which the aforesaid pc Icy of the republicans of
the House VIII be worked out.
Speaker Cannon Is the author of this
resolution. When the conference convened
three propositions were, laid before it, none
IF which adopted. The first was
resolution offered by Mr.. Dalzeil reciting
the history of the statehood Legislation IN
the House, and reaffirming the caucus ac-
ton taken at that time. Another was a
resolution by Mr.. Sibley of pennsylvania
providing that the statehood bill be made
The subject of conference between the TWO
houses. The third was an amendment 10
this resolution, offered by Mr.. lawhey, ao-
ding that in such conference the House
conferees be instructed TO insist on the
House provisions of the bill. No vote was
taken on any of these propositions.
Delegate Rodey Of New Mexico made a
strong appeal for concurrence in the Senate
bill. He however, did not make any mo-
ton to this end. Other speeches were
made by Messrs. Dalzell. Pennsylvania;
Hamilton. Michigan, chairman of the COM
mittee on territories, and Powers. Maine.
Delegate Mcclure of Oklahoma pleaded
for action whereby at least Oklahoma and
Indian territory might be admitted. Speaker
cd at length
TWO different occasions Other speakers
were Messrs Hepburn, Tawney, Burkett,
Needham, Brick and Gaines of West Vir-
ginia.
The debate was keyed to a high pitch
ut all times. The ground was taken by
those who favored the House provisions
or nothing that the republicans of the
body would be sacrificing their position
taken heretofore to few republican sena-
tors who had seen fit to unite with the
minority of the Senate if the bill as
amended was accepted
a definition of what Is considered the
binding feature of a caucus was made to
those republican members who have 1ndi-
Gated an intention to vote with the demo-
Gratis. should opportunity arise, for the ac-
ceptance of the Senate bill. This definition
that unless a member gives notice IN
caucus that he will not be bound by the ac-
ton taken he must consider himself bound
thereby. At the republican caucus on April
10 last. when the House bill was agreed
the measure to be supported, there
was no member who indicated his unwll
ipgness to be bound by the caucus. This
binding feature of a caucus, 1t was de-
Clared. was in force throughout the Con-
gTess in which the caucus occurs, and the
statement was made that no republican
member of the House now consider
himself free to support the Senate state
hood proposition.
There is some talk among House MEM
bers that the Senate might accept the
House bill, and negotiations with this end
in view have been in progress. To make
il impossible for the House committee to
take any action until some understanding
las been reached the committee at it's
last meeting, yesterday adjourned to meet
at the call of the chairman, and no meet
ing will be held until a call shall be issued