Arizona republican., 1906-12-30
IA STATEHOOD EfFtCT
 W. D. BILLS PROPOSITION
He Would Suggest to Congress That While the Porto Ricans Are Being Considered, Arizonians arc Still on Earth

w. D. Bell yesterday said to a re- porter for The Republican,:
 | l have a tentative plan that it seems
 to me will give the people of Arizona
 all of the benefits of single statehood.
 with the exception of representation in
 the senate and house of representatives
 of the United States and I would like
 to submit it to the public for adverse or favorable criticism. As a represent ative of the people I do not like to take
 the initiative in a plan of this kind
 without having some kind of an ex
 precision from the people. It is my in tention to represent the will of the peo- | pie as near as possible in the 24th legislature and if, after some public dis cussion. it seems that the following plan will meet with public approval. I I will introduce this joint memorial. The plan is as follows:
 HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NUMBER.
 To the Senate and House of Represent
 atives of the United States, in Con gross assembled:
 Your memorialists, the legislature as- sembly of the territory of Arizona, re- spectfully represent:
 That the United States government is on the eve of granting full territorial rights to the people of Porto Rico and the Philippine islands: that the people of Arizona are free-born American citizens, whose forefathers laid the foundations of the American republic. gathered together from all parts of the United States. and are pre-eminently h. fA .Ia American lines. being in this particular infinitely superior in intelligence and political sagacity to the people of the Philippine islands and Porto Rico.
 That the people of Arizona for many years looked forward to the time when Arizona would come into the union as a sovereign state, believing that the promise of single statehood is implied by the organic act and was actually made in words by President Lincoln at the time of the creation of the terri torial lines. to take effect when Ari- zona should have a population of 60. 600; that notwithstanding the fact that your honorable bodies have denied this right to our people for three successive congresses, they still think that they are entitled to independent autonomy and will never consent to the loss of their right of local government. or to the merging of Arizona with any other state or territory.
 That in view of the fact that your honorable bodies seem to be in a mood antagonistic to the just claims of the people of this territory and not inclined to grant Arizona single statehood at this session of congress. therefore be it
 Resolved, By the legislative assembly of Arizona that your honorable bodies are hereby requested to change the or ganic act relating to the conduct of territorial governments in such a man ner as to permit the people of Arizona to elect all of the territorial officers. now created and hereafter to be created by the legislative assembly of said ter ritory including the governor. all of the district judges. the secretary of state. the auditor. the treasurer. the at torney general, the public examiner. the ! citizen member of the board of control | and any and all officers oi d territorial | character, reserving the right to the | board of control to appoint the heads | of the penitentiary. the asylum. the | the normal schools. the re- | formatOry. the territorial board of | equalization and such other boards as | are of a territorial nature; and be 1t | further.
 Resolved, That your honorable bodies | are further requested to segregate the courts of this territory to the extent of giving the chief justice. who shall be appointed by the president of the United States. Jurisdiction in all federal matters and giving the district judges | jurisdiction in all territorial matters. II It being understood that the supreme II court remain as now established. but Il that the chief justice dc not sit as a II district judge.
 In case that there should arise oppo- II 'ition to this plan, either at home .or It Washington, because the federal government has not sufficient super vision over the territory. Bell sug- sests as compromise that the gov ,rnor be appointed at Washington and he right of territorial appointments be conferred upon the board of control. wo members of which. the auditor and 'itizen member, are elected.
 -O tff+ff4++%@++