The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-28
NO STATEHOOD BILL
ALL LEGISLATION AT THIS SESSION
 POSTPONED.
At Session of Committee on Territories Yesterday, All Members fin Sensational Scene Abandoned
 Consideration of Bill.

l Washington, Feb. 27.-There will be
 no statehood legislation for New Mex 1 leo and Arizona at this session of Con- gross. At a session of the Committee
 on Territories today all members. re- 1 Eardless of party, in sensational
 scene abandoned consideration of the | House bill.
 The members of the committee left | the room without any one suggesting
 further meetings for its consideration
 This remarkable action occurred at the
 conclusion of the reading of state-
 ments presented by Senators Nelson and Beveridge, charging corruption. jury bribing and various other effenses
 against certain officials and leaders of
 what was termed the gang which Is in control of political affairs in New Mexico"
 Among the statements read was a telegram from J. J. Hagerman, former Governor of New Mexico, refecting 1 upon the character of the people who are in control of political affairs of that territory and declaring that these men expect to continue their own con- trol after the territory becomes a State. He refers to them as free booters, and says that SO per cent of the voters are Mexicans. 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 well to wait until after the next census before admitting New Mexico to Statehood.
 Another statement was read recount ing tn" difficulties experienced by Ormsby McHarg. who went to Now Mexico in 1907 as an agent of the De- partment of Justice to prosecute land frauds. This statement declares Mc- To- l. Governor Curry and his Attorney-G Gen eral. Judge A. B. Fall. Among other confidential information produced by various Senators was a number of in- dtctments returned against the Terri torial officials. and there was read also a letter from w. F. Wilcox, former newspaper man of Santa Fe. He as- serts his life was threatened and that that he believes the threat would nave been carried out had be not left the Territory.
 It is regarded as extremely likely that the Committee on Territories will decide to conduct an investigation in New Mexico before acting upon an admission bill.
 In some of the communications laid before the committee. reference Is made to the Rough Rider influence" and 1t is declared that Governor Curry anu Ol OtuCTS Ildut SoFeIdb trips to Washington to have the agents of the Department of Justice called off when they were Investigating 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 govern ment agents were in danger so long as they persisted in their Investigations. At former meeting of the committee, one of the Democratic Senators, pro- posed that all sections of the bill pro- posing to legalize grants and bond is- sues be stricken from 1t. This propo- sition met with objection and today. after the meeting. 1t was said that there was not a single member of the committee who would vote to report the bill. There was practically no dis cussion of the bill at the meeting to- day. The time was wholly consumed by the statements presented. It was recognized that whether the state ments were true or not. questions had been raised that could not be disposed of. at the present session. of Congress. That being the general view. the mem bers of the committee dispersed and any meeting that is held now will be at the call of Chairman Beveridge. No date was fixed for further meeting.
 Territories are Disappointed.
 Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 27-The pub lished reports of the sensational pro ceedings before the Senate Committee at Washington today with reference to Statehood for Arizona and New Mex leo. were received here with much sur prise and the outcome with not a lit- tie disappointment.
 While for the last two weeks 1t had been apparent that there was little chance for Stateh ood at this session, the residents of this territory had not entirely abandoned hope. The feel ing today is that Arizona has been made the victim of political wrangles Of New Mexico.