Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19
KNOX IS SUSP|C|OUS'S|GNEDByPRES|DENT
Looks Askance at Pennsy- Railroad Bill Receives Execu-
vana Gubernatoral Boom. tive Approval
WILLING TO AID PARTY HOUSE CLEARS ITS DECKS
But Is Not Anxious to Further In Besides the Railroad
terests OF Magee Statehood Bill
PENROSES PLANS DISTURBED POSTAL SAVINGS I'M SENATE
Lad oners In view as Likely Can Upper Chamber
ddates Representative Tener in House Ending
BENG Among Number Big Work of Session. <
HOUSE CLEARS ITS DECKS
Besides the Railroad Bill, It Passes
Statehood Bill.
POSTAL SAVINGS IN SENATE
Upper Chamber Expected to Con-
cur in House Measure, Ending
Big Work of Session. <

Big Work of Session. {
With the railroad bill made a law nv
the signature of the President last night
and with the statehood bill ready to be
made law by his signature early this
week by the acceptance by the House of
the Senate measure. the fruits of the
present session OF Congress rapidly rip
ened yesterday.
President Taft returned from his trim
into Pennsylvania yesterday to find the
railroad bill enrolled and signed by both
Vice President Sherman and Speakeu
Cannon. and he promptly put his sigma
ture to II, making ii a law. He was
also informed that the statehood bill
would be enrolled. signed by the presiding
officers of the Senate and House and
ready for his signature early this week
This rapid completion of the legislative
program for the session Of Congress now
drawing to a close came about by the
action of the House yesterday afternoon
In adopting the conference railroad bill
and in agreeing to the Senate bill for the
admission of Arizona and New Mexico
into the Union as states.
There still remains the postal savings
bank bill, as passed by the House. in the
custody Of the Senate. A motion has
been made to have the Senate agree to
the House bill and, it is believed, will
prevail.
The railroad bin was debated for q
couple Of hours, although when the vote
was taken there was no disposition on
the part of any one to demand q roll call
and favorable action Mas practically
unanimous. all neutrality-suspicious. in
surgents and democrats-agreeing that
the measure acted upon yesterday was i'm
measurably better than either the Senate
or House bills before they were licked
into harmony by the conference commit
tee.
Vote Greeted With Applause.
At the conclusion OF the debate on ths
Sailroad bill the Speaker put the meas
| ure upon its final passage and the result
of the vote was greeted with applause.
The bill had been enrolled in anticipation
of this action and was at once carried to
Speaker Cannon at his desk. After he
had signed it the bill was then sent to
the Senate to receive the signature Of
Vice President Sherman.
Then the statehood bill was taken I'D
and agreed to by viva voce vote It
now requires merely the signature OF the
President to make ii a law. Representa-
tive Hamilton Of Michigan, chairman OF
the House committee on territories, said
yesterday that the concurrence with the
Senate amendments, which assures the
enactment Of the statehood bill, avoided
endangering that measure by attempting
to straighten out in conference the differ
ence between the views of the Senate and
the House on the measure.
OF the three Senate amendments the
one as to the Arizona election law is sat
isfactory to the House, and II has been
understood all along that the Senate
would put it in the bill. The amendment
providing that Congress shall pass on the
constitutions of the new states was re-
garded as necessary to secure an agree
ment to the bill in the Senate. The other
amendment concerning the disposition OF
public lands for payments OF debts the
House committee was willing to concede
in order to avoid hanging UP the bill In
conference.
Father of Three States.
"And thus" said Mr.. Hamilton face
tiously after the bill had gone through. Il
am the proud and fond parent Of three
states-Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mex
ico."
No time was wasted i'm consideration or
the statehood bill. As soon as it had been
laid before the House there were demands
for a vote without any discussion.
Representative Lloyd OF Missouri asked
for a minute in which to say he was not
wholly satisfied with the Senate bill. but
in order to promptly insure statehood for
Arizona and New Mexico he was ready to
vote for it.
Mr.. Hamilton of Michigan moved to
concur in the Senate amendments.
vote. vote. vote-' cried a hundred
members from either side Of the House.
Agreed to Unanimously.
With only a few minutes devoted 70
further debate the Senate amendments
were agreed to unanimously by viva
voce vote.
The statehood bill having been signed
by Vice President Sherman was brought
to the House and Speaker Cannon added
his signature to it, while presiding over
the House. 1t was at once sent to the
White House for the approval of the
President.
1t cannot be stated definitely when
Arizona and New Mexico will come into
the Union under this legislation. 1t re-
quires that the constitutions adopted by
the proposed states must be ratified by
Congress and approved by the President.
Conceding that the statehood bill will
be in lorce within few days, il will be
necessary for the territories to hold con-
stitutional conventions which will require
many weeks submit the constitutions to
the people of the territories for adoption
and then return them to Washington.
Provision is made against joint elections
for the adoption of the constitution and
for the nomination or election Of state
officers.
May Have a Long Wait.
It is impossible. therefore. to specify
when the people OF the two territories
will enjoy the benefits of statehood and
many believe that 1t will not be before
the presidential election OF 1912.
The railroad bill. which will be ready
'or the Presidents signature on his re-
urn to Washington, is substantially I'm
accordance with the Presidents message
demanding amendments to the interstats
law. About the only exceptions
ire that 1t does not legalize holding
agreements made by railroads, permit
mergers or regulate the issuance OF
tocks and bonds. It creates q COM
nerce court and broadens the SCOPE OF
he jurisdiction by the Interstate COM
nerce commissic.. as regcfds s---:.'-s'~-- :