The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-01-29
IN 1911

have II that the statehood bill Is ex.
peeted to pass shortly, and that II is
satisfactory to all concerned. II IL
believed that there may be several
changes made In the text Of the bill
In the senate, but that they will be
satisfactory is generally admitted. This
flattering report comes from the New
Mexico delegation now present In Wash.
ington, ava 10 say the least, is the means
Oh some encouragement. There are so
many slips betwixt, etc, however, that
we don Z know whether TO believe our
ears or not. Delegate Andrews says
there IL going to be no change In the
program for the passage Of the bill, and
that the rumor Of a hitch IL unfounded.
The whole bill is drawn to conform as
nearly as possible to the text Of pre-.
vious enabling acts, and contains such
provisions rs may in their nature be
common to all, besides additional pro
visions that are made necessary by ex'
sting laws and local conditions. II
there are no bitches, as claimed by
Delegate Andrews, and the machinery
is kept oiled and running all the while,
It is possible that we may be admitted
about January !, 1911; this would beat
the prophecy made by the News last
week that II would not occur before
1919, at least one year; and, unless
the bitches are dispensed with we will
still hold to that date as the more prac.
tical one. Under the provisions Of the
bill an election which Is to be properly
~safeguarded is provided for each Of the
proposed new states Of New Mexico and
Arizona. The convention for New Mex.
leo is to consist Of 100 delegates, and
that for Arizona Of SO delegates.
The constitution framed must In each
case conform TO the usual requirements
and be submitted to the people Of each
proposed state, respectively, for rati.
hcation at an election to be held for
that purpose only.
With respect to elections, the pend.
ing bill differs from that reported u
year y In that separate elections are
provided for the ratification or rejec.
ton Of the constitution, and for the
selection Of state, county and other
officers.
This change is recommended so that
the attention Of voters may be directed
solely TO the provisions Of tho constitu.
tion, so that they may not be diverted
and their judgment possibly influenced
by the questions involved in the cleo.
ton Of a large body Of state, county
and other local officers.
Each state is TO constitute a judicial
district, and the proper officials are
provided therefor. New Mexico is to
be attached to the eighth and Arizona
to the ninth circuit.
Proper provision is made In the US.
ual way for pending causes in the
territorial courts during the transition.
New Mexico is allowed two and
Arizona one member Of the house Of
representatives, representation being
based on the last census, supplemented
by n conservative estimate Of increase
in population since 1900.
Proper provision is made In each
state for non sectaiian common schools
and the teaching Of English therein.
Suffrage is well guarded, and strong
antipolygamy clauses are In the bill.
The new states are 10 assume and
pay tho debts Of the territories, re.
spectively.
The capital OF New Mexico Ia fixed
at Santa Fe until 1915, and that Of
Arizona at Phoenix until the same
year, at which time IL Is expected that
conditions will have so shaped them.
selves that state capitals may be es.
tablishei by elections provided for that
purpose, with entire fairness TO all
parts Of the state concerned.
After 1918 the proper effort will be
made, Of course, 10 move the capital 10
Tucumcari, which will be at that time
the largest city not only In New Mex
leo, but In the entire southwest. That g
serious, there will be republicans enough
here by that time to swing the prize.
The bill fixes the minimum price at
which the lands granted for educa.
tional purposes subject to sale may be
sold. The price east Of the one hun.
dred and fifth meridian Is fixed at IS
per acre. This covers approximately
the east third Of New Mexico. The
price hxed on the remaining two thirds
Of New Mexico and upon Arizona Is
80 per acre.
Arizona is given 100000 acres more
than New Mexico because New Mexico
has heretofore had much larger grants
for territorial institutions than Arizona.
Each state, as Is usual, after admis.
sion Is to receive 8 per cent Of the cash
realized from the sale Of public lands
within the state, 10 form a permanent
fund, the interest ~ which only car
be used for the maintenance Of its
common schools, and the usual restric
lions, requirements and safeguards are
thrown around all Of these donations
TO each Of the states.
An appropriation Of 100000 for the
state Of New Mexico and Of 900 900