Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-12-09
TO UNDERGO CHANGES
IN COMMITTEES
Believed That Capital VIII Not be
Held at Santa Fe Until 1920
Land Matters and
Money Also
Figure.

cial House resolution NUMBER 4,
better known as the New Mexico
statehood bill, which was the fourth
measure introduced in the house af-
the convening of congress, will un-
doubtedly undergo a large number
of changes at the hands of the house
committee before il is reported.
However, the terms are sufficient
ly liberal to permit of a number of
changes which will be acceptable
to New Mexico it is believed pro-
vding an attempt is noa made to
deprive the territory of a number OF
rights TO which she Is entitled upon
entering statehood.
The measure was carefully drawn,
not only to meet conditions in New
Mexico but also among members of
congress who wij take an active
part in its consideration.
1t is believed here that one
change that will likely be made, will
be relative to the fixing of the state
capital.
while a clause will undoubtedly
remain fixing the capital at Santa
Fe for a given number of years,
still it is not believed that it will be
so fixed until 1920 as in the present
Il measure, ass
money and land, it is hoped, will be
included in the bill but there is
some doubt as to the amounts in
each case. The bin is In many re-
spects so similar to the one in 1905,
when II was proposed TO Join New
Mexico and Arizona as one state,
that there is good reason to believe
that congress can not recede from
the position it took at that time
relative to- appropriations and their
provisions.
The new Statehood bill is as fol-
lows:
To enable the people of New Mex
leo TO form constitution and
state government and be admit
ted into the Union on an equal
footing with the original states.
Be 1t enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the Unit
ed States of America in congress as
sembled, That the inhabitants of all
that part of the area of the United
States now constituting the territory
of New Mexico as at present de-
scribed may become a state of the
Union as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2. That all qualified electors
of said territory are hereby author
lied to vote for and choose delegates
to form convention in said terri
tory; such delegates shall possess
the qualifications of such electors.
The aforesaid convention shall con-
sist of one hundred and thirteen
several counties within the limits of
the proposed state, and the COVER
nor, chief justice, and the secretary
OF the said terrltorq shall appartion
the delegates to be thus elected
among the several counties thereof
in accordance with the voting pop
ulation as shown by the vote cast
for delegate in congress in said ter
ritory in nineteen hundred and six
Governor 10 Order Election.
And the governor of said territory
shall by proclamation order an elec-
tion OF the delegates aforesaid in |
said territory to be held on the sixth |
Tuesday after the passage of this |
act, which proclamation shall be is |
sued within twenty days after the !
passage Of this act; and such elec- |
tion shall be conducted. the returns |
made, the result ascertained, and |
the certificates to the persons elect |
ed to such convention issued as
nearly as may be in the same man |
ner as is prescribed by the laws Of |
said territory regarding the elections |
therein for members of the house of |
representatives of the legislative as
sembly thereof by the board of |
county commissioners of the respect
i've counties. All persons resident In |
proposed state who are qualified |
voters of said territory as herein |
provided, shall be entitled to vote
upon the ratification or rejection OF
the constitution, under such rules
and regulations as said convention
may prescribe not in conflict with
this act.
Delegates to Meet.
Sec. 3. That the delegates to the
convention thus elected shall meet
at the seat of government of said
territory on the third Monday after
their election, and after organiza-
ton shall declare, on behalf of the
people of said proposed state, that
they adopt the constitution of the
United states: whereupon the said
convention shall be, and r. hereby
authorized TO form a constitution
and state government for said pro-
posed state. The constitution shall
be republican in form and make no
in civil or political rights
on account OF race or color, except
as to Indians not taxed, and not be
repugnant TO the constitution of the
United States and the principles OF
the Declaration OF Independence.
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