New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-19
FIGHT OVER STATEHOOD
ALMOST CONE TO BLOWS.
House Committees Stormy Meeting
The Presidents Statement.

Washington, Jan 1s.-The Statehood confess
In Congress appears to gather bitterness with
time At the meeting of the House COMMITTEES
on Territories to-day members Of the Anti-Joint
Statehood League of Arizona appeared. but
they played less important part in the hear
ing than Representative Hamilton. OF Michigan.
the chairman of the committee. and Repre-
sentative Lloyd OF Missouri. who had a tilt
which threatened to end in blows. Mr.. Hamil-
ton asking questions showing his leaning
toward joint Statehood when Mr.. Lloyd re-
marked that the change in the attitude Of Mr..
Hamilton on Statehood was most remarkable
Mr.. Hamilton emphatically denied that he had
changed front. and Mr.. Lloyd said it was strange
that the member from Michigan had not Joined
in minority report against individual State
hood when the House Committee Territories
at former session of Congress reported IA
vorably bill to admit Arizona and New
Mexico.
Mr.. Hamilton explained that he was IN 16ichi-
gan attending convention at the time the
committee took the action. and consequently
was in no way responsible for It
| Mr. Lloyd said he would accept ths apology,
! and the Michigan member angriIy declared hs
made apology and started from his chair.
He suddenly regained his composura however.
| and the hearing continued.
Dwight 3. Heard. former Governor OF Arizona,
said the Arizona delegation felt that expIana-
| ton should be made by Representative Powers
| of his intination that the Artzonans wsrs under
| corporation influence. Mr.. Powers denied that
| ne had made any statement which could be re-
| garded giving any such intirnstion-
| NJ. o. Murphy. former Governor OF Arizons.
| made heated speech denouncing the reports
that railroads and mining interests vers using
corrupt methods to defeat the joint Statehood
| bill.
! Il hereby denounce as false. Hbeuous and
slanderous any charge of corruption regardless
/ Of where it comes from" said Mr.. Murphy. Il
feel it Is utterly futile for US 70 appear before
| this committee and give our views on Statehood.
| The verdict is signed and sealed against US. But
/ I cannot refrain from denouncins this oharss
/ of corruption against our party It would be
/ just as fair to credit a report that hands are
| being put into the government purse 10 take
money for buildings to be used IN passing the
| toint Statehood bill" He added that II the man
! who started the story would make the assertion
! over his own signature, he would send him 20
| the penitentiary for malicious libel no matter
/ how thigh up he might be
Mr.. Hamilton warned Mr.. Murphy to be ten~
perate in his statements and not to say anything
which would reflect on either Of the national
| legislative bodies Mr.. Hamilton said also that
| no member of the committee was responsible
for newspaper reports that money was being
/ used 10 defeat joint Statehood he expressed
/
said they reflected as seriously on members Oh
( Congress as on people from Arizona-
| Delegate Smith, of Arizona made an lInpas-
stoned speech in which ne said poSitively tnal
every man in the Arizona party was pd.ylns hi'
own expenses and was in no sense a representa-
tive of any corporation -
usr+boidt Of Missouri said that the President
in speaking to the Missouri delegation mad toIo
| them that he understood certain large corpora
tions in Arizona were opposing lhe ol1tsLi1oe ..
hill and were dong it for selfish reasons. ana y
11-nI,id he a shame to give them the chance OF
saying they had defeated the olII- ,..t.. +rs.
The Speaker and his supporters INSIST 'I-sIS
when the proper time comes the Stateho2d oll-
will be passed without amendment WheEeaS
! Representative Babcock the leader OF Ile IN
eIIreents. declares that his forces are CROWNS
stronger every day The insprge1ts tSs- are are tb
I 1onea and passfng the bill which confines llse!1
to giving Statehood to Indian TerrItory aIa ~
| oklahoma leaving the other territories " y"
| disposed of at some remote date