Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1906-02-24

the ultimate conversion of the terri |
tory into state. contending that this |
was not a pledge for the preservation |
of territorial lines.
The statehood bill as reported to |
the senate is similar in most respects
to the bill passed by the house of
representatives. The only changes are
those in phraseology or to correct
omissions of thoughtlessness. 1t is the
hope of those in charge that the bill
can be disposed of in a week or ten
days. This hope may not be realized
as it is appreciated that there is
disposition on the part of senators to
use tie statehood bill as a buffer to
keep off more Objectionable legisla-
ton
If an agreement. is reached shortly
on the railroad rate bill when that
measure comes from the committee on
interstate commerce The vote q the
rate bill is to he taken in the commit
tee. 1t can be asserted with a rea-
sonable degree of confidence that the
bill, when passed by the senate, will
. be amended by adding the amendment
offered by Senator Foraker. This
amendment propoces that New
Mexico and Arizona shall vote sepa-
rately to decide whether they will ac-
cept Joint statehood.
1t can be asserted that there are
surely sixteen Republican senators
who will vote for this amendment
Perhaps there will be eighteen. The
I1n DIV
result of a poll made by one of the
senators interested in seeing that the
bill is amended as indicated. The Re-
publican Sc tors in question are:
Foraker, Pc kins, Flint, Carter, Bur
rows, Alger, McComas, Hepburn,
Plat of New York, Fulton, Elkins,
Gallinger, Scott. Clarke of Wyoming,
Warren and Birkett. 1t is reasonably
certain that Senators Bulkley, Mil
lard, Hansborcugh, Penrose anC La
Toilette will join with those who want
the Foraker amendment. Senator
Warner has told no one how he will
vote on the bill. but it is known that
he has not been in sympathy to join
the two territories together.
TTIOdyJ 10.
Washington-Light was thrown on
the land fraud investigation by Secre-
tary Hitchcock at an executive hear
ing before a subcommittee of tie
house appropriation committee today.
In connection with his estimates of
| $4,000 for a continuance of the prose
cutions, Mr.. Hitchcock explained that
! GOO indictments and 400 convictions
already have been obtained by the in
terror department in nineteen states.
The house committee on m srchant
marine and fisheries decided to re-
port favorably a bill appropriating
$50. 900 for biological station on the
Gulf of Mexico. Bills for fish hatch
cries were considered and the COM
mittee agreed to Export favorably on
! the following among others: Illinois,
! $25,00O; Utah, $4,000; Kansas,
$25,OOO New Mexico, $4,000; Wyo-
ming, $4,000; Puget Sound, Wash,
$5O,OOO Nevada, $25,O20; Fargo, N.
! D.. $4,000.
The house committee on territories
has decided to make a favorable re-
port on the Nelson Alaskan delegate
bill. with slight amendments. The
bill has already passed the senate and
! gives Alaska delegate, who is to be
/ elected and have powers practically
! the same as the delegates from Ari-
IONA, New Mexico and other organ
! lied territories.
Governor Charles E. Magoon con-
| cluded his testimony before the SEN
ate committee on interoceanic can
/ ais. He disclaimed knowledge of the
granting of the concession to the
Union Oil Company of California to
construct a pipe line across the 18TH
mus within the canal zone.
Senator Stone made a fruitless eff
fort to have bill passed permitting
| the importation of tea siftings for the
benefit of a st. Louis wholesale drug
! concern hich manufactures a patent
preparation from tea and could pro-
duce it much more economically if
permitted to use tea siftings.