Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-12-27
STATEHOOD MAY
Be POSTPONED
Territory Should Have Held
Constitutional Convention
This Year
SETH BULLOCK REAPPOINTED
Recognition of His Services
and Compliment to
Roosevelt.

Washington, Dec. 27.-Statehood
legislation at the present session OF
Congress will not go beyond giving
authority TO the people of New 'texi-
co and Arizona to hold constitutional
conventions and provide the means
for such conventions, if the wishes Of
leading members of Congress dictate
the policy. This program is in har-
mony with the message of President
TAFT
In the last session of the sixtIet1
Congress the House passed a bill to
admit New Mexico and Arizona as
separate states. 1t was predicted that
the measure would go through the
Senate in short order. Such was not
the case, however. Some of. the
members of the Senate committee did
not like the looks of some certain
land grants to individuals which had
been received under territorial ad-
ministration. Some of the claims for
large holdings under Spanish grants
were also viewed with suspicion. Fur
thermore the estimates coming from
the territories as to population, both
as to numbers and class were not
accepted, and it was thought best to
delay action until after the 1910 de-
cennial census could be completed.
Mr.. Tafts recommendations it is
said, will supply the excuse for de-
lay. The President urges that care
be exercised in the preparation OF
legislation affecting each territory to
secure deliberation in the selection of
persons as members of the conven-
tion to draft a constitution of the in
coming state" and that that such
legislation after adoption b the Con-
yention, shall be submitted to the
people for their approval at an cleo
tion in which the sole issue shall be
the merits of the constitution
In the case of the adoption of the
constitution for Oklahoma the elec-
tion was complicated with the selec-
tion of the state officers, and Mr. Taft
is determined this situation shall not
occur in the cases of New Mexico and
Arizona. In the event of their being
no issue before the people of each of
tho taprit nrinc tho oHnntinn of
rejection of the constitution, it is be.
lieved the best judgment of the peo-
pie Will prevail
Should the convention draft con-
stitutions which do not adequately
protect public interests in the matter
of safeguarding public lands and ma
tional resources and should those con-
.stitutions be adopted by votes of the
people of the territories, the President
could reject them if he desired and
Congress again could open the way
for the adoption of satisfactory con-
stitutions. This, of course, was well
night impossible in the case of Okla
homa as the people had expressed
IuCIE CuOlCS OI StdIC UulSG10 anu Jus
tice had to be done them.
The indications are that a bill will
be passed at this session providing
for the means of holding constitu-
tional conventions and for elections
to pass upon the question of adopting
or rejecting the constitutions. 1t is
believed that the effect will be to in
sure good state constitutions and
make it certain that two new stars
will be added to the flag within a
year of the adjournment of the pres
ent Congress.
Seth Bullock Will Be Reappointed
Washington, Dec. 27.-It was an
nounced at the White House today
that Seth Bullock, United States mar
shal for South Dakota, will be reap
pointed for another term four years
from January 13 next. Bullock has
been known as close personal friend
of Theodore Roosevelt, and his reap
pointment is said to be both in rec
ognition of what he has done as vel
as a compliment to former President
Roosevelt.
Sloan Wants More Land for Arizona
Washington, d. c. Dec. 27,-Gover
nor Sloan. of Arizona. has forwarded
to Congressman Hamilton, chairman
of the house committee on territories
and author of the statehood bill, re
quest for an amendment to the bill al
follows:
Granting to the territory 80 pei
cent of the revenuet Of the forest re
serves in the territory instead of 2(
Der cent as provided.
Giving to the territory in addition
Y to the present provisions, million
acres Of government land as funt
for the future development of the ter
ritorial road system now initiated
and 100000 acres as source of in