Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
STATEHOOD SITUATION
Assertions of Both Insurgents
and StaIWartS.
STRINGENT LEGISLATION
Threatened the Reealcitrants If They
Hold Out.
HOUSE MANAGERS CONFIDENT
In Breaking Down the Insurgent
Strength Finally-An Unfounded
Rumor About Mr.. Babcock.
HOUSE MANAGERS CONFIDENT

The fnsurgent republicans of the House
were boldly claiming last night that the
statehood bill will never be reported out Oh
committee in its present form and that the
House managers in order to save their
face and avoid the risk of defeat Will
modify the measure to the extent OF sat
Isfying the major part of the oppositioH
before letting it out of committee. The
statement was based upon their claims OIL
possessing sufficient strength to defeat the
rule and bring the House management u
a crushing defeat and loss of prestige.
They claimed sixty-three republican
against the rule, nine more than enough
to defeat 1t.
This claim was absolutely controverted
by the House managers. They admitted
that the bill may not be reported from
committee until the way is clear Tor lts
massage under escort of the contemplated
rule, but insisted that it will not be amend
ed in the essential feature desired by the
onposition namely, the separate admission
OF Arizona and New Mexico.
House Managers Confident.
Furthermore. they said that If the state
hood legislation is prevented there Will be
action upon a number of bills proposing
more rigorous taxation laws in the terri
tories while they remain as territories, for,
they claimed no combination with the
democrats could be made against proposed
legislation of such salutary character. The
House managers reiterated their confidence
of being able TO break down the insurgent
strength finally.
The threat of stringent legislation for
the territories was aimed at that section
of the insurgent party which is charged
by the stalwarts with trying to thwart ac-
ton in the interest of mining and railway
properties that now are benehciar1es or a
low taxation system and which 1t is as
sumed would be taxed higher under state
hood
Thus far the House managers have not
been able to devise successful arguments
10 sway that faction of the insurgents
who take their present attitude on the
ground of professed belief that single state
hood for the two territories is not ao-
visable. The claim that the plan should be
carried out because 1t is the admlnistra-
ton measure and was indorSed by ma
jority vote of a republican caucus is met
by those insurgents with the counter-clalm
that the action of the caucus was not well
considered. Whereupon the managers come
back with the statement that the whole
subject has been thoroughly threshed out
in a previous Congress. And SO It goes,
back and forth.
An Unfounded Rumor.
A rumor was abroad last night that Rep
resentative Babcock and Speaker Cannon
had met and had bitterly Quarreled over
Mr.. Babcock's alleged recalcitrant attitude.
There was no foundation in fact for such
story. Mr.. Babcock did call upon the stall
wart managers yesterday and announced
that he intended to arise to a question of
personal privilege in the House and deny a
story published in the morning papers that
lie was opposing the statehood bill through
pique at not having been made chairman
OF appropria tons committee.
Mr.. Babcock was assured by the stall
warts that the story did not originate with
them and that they had not circulated any
such reports. They went on to say that it
was superfluDus for Mr.. Babcock to express
anything but satisfaction with his commit
tee assignments, having been given an i'm
portant craftsmanship and a place on ways
and means therefore, there would be no
ground for him to be plqued nor for any
one TO charge that he was.
II IS said that Mr.. Bahcock and the
Speaker exchanged views upon the defini-
ton of an "insurgent." The Speaker is re-
ported to have defined insurgent as one
who defied the organization of the House,
while Mr.. Babcock contSnded that 1t was
one who in this instance exercised his inde-
pendent views upon Legislation that had not
been well considered either by the House
or the admlnisra ton.
There were 81 number of stories current
last night about Representatives who were
alleged to have been taken 10 task by the
Speaker and By the President for their op-
position TO statehood and who had protest
ed against the reported attempted coercion
The circulation of several reputed instances
Is indication of the irritation among the
republicans and the strained situation be-
tween the two factions There is no con-
Cealing the fact that It IS one of the most
dangerous situa tions far as party har-
mony Is concerned that has threatened the
republicans in long time.
One Stalwart's Expression.
The House managers feel that II is abso-
lutely necessary 20 maintain the party or
ganization and the binding force of party
agreement. or else the whole session will
run wild from now on.
One of the stalwart leaders said last
night:
Why If coterie of republicans can
jump out of the party traces and join with
the democrats to break a rule reported in
conformity with a majority vote of the
party we might as well shut up shop. They
could raid any bill that came along-smash
the naval bill. the army bill. the sundry
civil. the railway rate measure when II IS
ready. l; would then be possible for a
game of Old-fashoned log rolling by
which certain combinations could be made
and the republican party would have to
shoulder the blame while the combinat ations
got the benefits