The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-03-06
STATEHOOD ACT Given UP
Sensation at Meeting of Terri
tories Committee.
CORRUPTION Charges Are MADE
legged to Be in Charge of New
Mexico Politics. Inyestiga-
ton Will Be Made.


Washington-fnere will be NO
statehood legislation for New Mex.
leo and Arizona at the present ses.
sion Of congress. At a meeting o1
the committee on territories all mem
bers, regardless of party, in sensa-
tional scene abandoned considera-
ton afs1 house bill
The members of the committee left
the room without any one suggesting
further meetings for it's considera-
ton. This remarkable action oc-
Cured at the conclusion of the read
ing of statements presented by Sena-
tors Nelson and Beveridge charging
corruption, jobbing and various 9th
er offenses against certain officials
and leaders of what was termed 'the
gang which Is In control Of politi-
cal affairs in New Mexico"
Among the statements read was a
telegram from j. j. Hagerman, for
mer governor of New Mexico, re-
1ecting upon the character of the
people who are in control of politi-
cal affairs of that territory, and de-
clared that these men expect to con-
tinue their control after the terrific
ry becomes a state. He refers to
them as free booters," and says that
sixty per cent of the voters are Mex
leans and one-half Of that number
are illiterate and ignorant and easily
could be governed by the gang" to
which he referred. He suggested
that 1t would be we'll to wait until
after the next census before admit
ing lew Mexico TO statehood.
Another statement was read re-
counting the difficulties experienced
by Ormsby Mcharg, who went to New
Mexico in 1857 as an agent of the
department Of jusuce to prosecute
land frauds. This statement, de-
clares McHarg, was hampered in his
work by Gov Curry and his attorney
general, Judge A. B. Fall. Among
other confidential information pro-
duced by various senators was
number of indictments returned
against the territorial officials and
there was read also. letter from w.
f. Wilcox. a former neWspa per man.
OF Santa Fe, who asserts his life
threatened and that he believes the
threat would have been carried out
had he not left the territory
1t is regarded as extremely likely
that the committee on territories will
decide to conduct an investigation in
New Mexico before acting on an ad-
bill.
In some of the communications
laid before the committee, refer
ence is made to the rough rider in
fluence, and it is declared that Gov.
Curry and number Of others made
several trips to Washington to have
the agent of the department of JUS
tice called off when they were in
vestigating land fraud cases.
Miss Lawler, stenographer, who
assisted in the land fraud cases,
made a statement to the committee
which indicated that the lives of the
government agents were in danger
30 long as they persisted in their in
At former meeting |
IF the committee one of the Demo- |
,ratic senators proposed that all sec
ions of the bill proposing to legalize |
and grants and bond issue be strick- |
IN from it. This proprosition met |
With objection and after the |
meeting, it was said that there was |
lot single members of the commit
zee, who would vote to report the |
,ill. There was practically no dis
.ussion OF the bill at the meeting. |
The time was wholly consumed by /
he statements presented. 1t was
ecognized that whether the state
nents were true or not. questions had
een raised that could not be dis
'osed Of at the present session of
ongress. That being the general
lew, the members OF the committee
dispersed and any meeting that is
leld now will be at the call of Chair
aan Beveridge. No date was fixed
or further meeting.