The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1910-06-24

hood bill, had been passed bv tho -.
Hu sent immediately to the White
house. The president did not sim 49,.
statehood bill Saturday. Hs
Two OF the most important of +bs
administration measures, the roilroaa
anu the statehood bills, thus were acted
upon finally by congress Saturday
1nIs action was taken by the bousa
the senate having previously disnossd
u Doth measures. 1t was Accommodated
Practically without debate and in rec.
ora time, not even a roll call being 70.
CURED IN the whole procedure.
The railroad bill was the first 70 70.
celVe consideration. Chairman Mann Of
the committee on interstate and foro;cn
commerce called the conference report
from the speaker s table. Brief speeches
were made, among them being several
ny democrats in expression of their on.
position to the report.
Flnal action on statehood legislation
was accomplished with even greater
ease. BY reason of pressure from the
"hlte House and aided by some din.
lomatle work by Postmaster General
hitchcock, opposition to the accordance
OF the senate amendments to the state.
nood Dill was almost entirely dissipated.
Inc 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.
tories 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 s 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 OF 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 president mes
sage demanding amendments to the
interstate commerce laws. About the
only exceptions are that it does not
legalize holding agreements made by
railroads, permit mergers or regulate
the issuance of stocks and bonds.
Creates Commerce Court.
1t creates a ommerce 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 bills be-
ing signed. Other provisions, and they
are extensive, will take effect within
60 days from the day of approval.