Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-06-24
CONGRESS BUSY DAY KNOX Will REMAIN
STATEHOOD AND RAILROAD
BILLS BOTH PASSED,
mouse Made Short Work of Those I'm
pOrSant Measures saturday-Demo.
Gratis Approved Report on Railroad
Bill but Were Silent on others-Botb
Bills Are Taft Recommendations.

President Taft has signed the railroad
OH. The measure, as had the stato
noou DILL had been passed by the house
ana sent Immediately to the Wbi+e
house The president did not SIGN tbe
statehood bill Saturday.
Two of the most important of +bo
administration measures, the railroad
ana the statehood bills, thus were acted
upon hnaly by congress Saturday.
ms action was taken by the house,
the senate having previously disposed
OIL ooth measures. 1t was accomplished
practically without debate and in rec.
olu Time, not even roll call being re-
CURED IN the whole procedure.
The railroad bill was the first to re-
celVe consideration. Chairman Mann of
the committee on interstate and foreion
commerce called the conference report
from the speaker IS table. Brief sneecbas
were made, among them being several
by democrats in expression of their op-
position to the report.
Final action on statehood LEGISLATION
was accomplished with even greater
ease. BY reason of pressure from the
White House and aided by some dip
lomatlc work by Postmaster General
hitchcock, opposition to the acceptance
OF the senate amendments to the state
mood bill was almost entirely dissipated.
The democrats were induced to forego
objection through judicious circulation
OF a report that if the bill went into
conference it might NOT emerge during
the present session. Chairman Hamil-
ton of the house committee on terri
torres at once realized that the only
way to put the legislation through and
not delay the present session was to
agree to the senate amendments and
welcomed the administration assist
ance.
1t can not be stated definitely when
Arizona and New Mexico will come into
the Union under this legislation. 1t
requires that the constitutions adopted
by the proposed states must be ratified
by congress and approved by the presi-
dent.
Conceding that the statehood bill will
be in force within a few days it will
be necessary for the territories to hold
constitutional conventions, which will
require many weeks, submit the CON
stitution to the people of the territories
for adoption, and then return them to
Washington.
Provides Against Joint Elections.
Provision is made against joint cleo
tions for the adoption of the constitu-
ton and for the nomination or election
of state officers. 1t is impossible, there
fore, to specify when the people of the
two territories will enjoy the benefits of
statehood and many believe that it will
not be before the presidential election
of 1912.
The railroad bill is substantially in
accordance with the presidents mes
sage demanding amendments to the
interstate commerce laws. About the
only exceptions are that it does not
legalize holding agreements made by
IAN OdNlS5 PCIhA4G lhCl SSAS "a oNA4'NNN
the issuance of stocks and bonds,
Creates Commerce Court.
1t creates commerce court and
broadens the scope of the jurisdiction
of the interstate commerce commission
regarding railroads.
1t also brings telegraph, telephone
and cable companies within that juris-
diction. Supervision is given to the
commission over increases of rates, and
this section, as well as one making
provision for the investigation of the
stock and bond question, will go into
effect Immediately upon the bill s be-
ing signed. Other provisions, and they
are extensive, will take effect within
60 days from the day of approval,