The Springfield herald., 1906-03-16
OKLAHOMA STATE.
NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA ARE
LEFT OUT.
SENATE AMENDS THE BILL

Indian Territory and Oklahoma to Be-
come One State -Anti-Polygamy
and Prohibition Amendments In
cuded-Five Million Dollars for
Schools-Guthrie for the Capital.
Washington.-On Friday afternoon
the Senate passed bill for the admis-
sion of a new state to be called Okla
homa, and to be composed of the ter
ritory of Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory.
1t was the House joint statehood bill
with all the provisions relating to
Arizona and New Mexico stricken out.
The motion to strike out was made
by Mr.. Burrows, and 1t was carried by
the close vote of 81 to 80. after hav-
ing been lost by the still closer vote
of 35 to sc.
Immediately after the disposal of the
statehood bill the railroad rate bill
was made the unfinished business, but
as the Senate adjourned until Monday,
the actual formal consideration of the
measure will not begin until Monday.
The vote on statehood came as the
climax of day devoted exclusively to
| that BILL Most of the time was given
to discussion, but the voting on the
| bill and amendments consumed all
hour and a half.
The speech-maliing excited compare
| lively little interest, but there was
| pronounced excitement throughout the
| voting period, and it eliminated when
the success OF the motion to eliminate
Arizona and New Mexico was an
nounced after the second vote on that
proposition.
The test vote upon which the op-
ponents of joint statehood showed
| their greatest strength was on the
Foraker amendment which provided
that Arizona and New Mexico should
have an opportunity to vote separately
on joint statehood. This was carried
| by the vote of AZ to 30
Previous to this action proposition
for increased appropriations in the biz
was stricken out in order to afford an
| opportunity for motion to concur in
the Senate amendments when the bill
is sent to the House.
The speech-making began at IL
O'Clock and was under the ten-minute
rule after the first hour. About n
| dozen speeches We're made, but the
notable ones were by Messrs. Dubois
and Burrows in denunciation of poly
gamy In Arizona and New Mexico.
Mr. Dubois secured incorporation OF
an antipolygamy amendment, but the
elimination of Arizona from the mea-
sure detracted somewhat from the i'm
portance of the accomplishment.
| Just before the voting began Mr..
Cullom, who has been absent from
the Senate on account of illness dur
ing the greater part of the session, en-
tered the chamber He was warmly
welcomed.
As amended by the Senate the bill
provides for the creation of the state
of Oklahoma out OF Oklahoma and In
dian Territory upon the adoption OF a
| constitution. The state is allowed the
usual quota of executive, judicial and
Legislative officers. two United States
Senators and five members of the ma
4 tional House of Representatives.
A constitutional convention with 40
members, fifty-tive of which are TO be
chosen by each of the territories COM
prising the state, is provided for, and
all male citizens or male Indians
twenty-one years old are made eligible
TO membership in it,
There is an especial provision pro-
tecting the Indians in their rights and
| continuing the prerogative OF the ma
| tional government to control their af-
fairs.
The sale of intoxicating liquors in
what is now Indian Territory is pro-
| hibited for twenty-one years and
; longer unless the constitution is
| changed.
Sections 16 and 36 of each township
of land in Oklahoma are set aside for
| the benefit of the common school sys-
TEN, as is also five per cent. OF the
| proceeds of the sale of public lands.
| There is an appropriation of S5,OOO,Ooo
from the national treasury for the
benefit of the schools. Provision is
made for the support of higher educa-
ton and charitable institutions. Two
| districts for the United States courts,
one in Oklahoma and the other in In
dian Territory, are provided for.
Guthrie is made the temporary seat
| of government, but the house pro-
| vision continuing it in that capacity
| until 1910 was eliminated.