The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-17
SENATE P ASSES
STATEHOOD BILL
Now in Shape for Final
Action at This
Session.
SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE MEASURE
Unless Change Is Made Arizona
and New Mexico May Have to
Wait Two and Half Years
Before Being Received.
Vote on Railroad Bill
To-Day.

manning on the Senate calendar LOT
almost three months In a state of un-
| certainty as TO its fate, the bill pro-
viding for the admission OF the Terri
tories of New Mexico and Arizona to
| separate statehood was taken UP by
| the Senate to-day and passed after
| debate consuming little more than
| two hours.
The measure was called UP by SEN
Iator Beveridge, chairman of the COM
mittee on Territories. and was passed
| after speeches by Senators Beyeridge.
| Frazer, Nelson, Hughes and Smoot. All
| the speeches were favorable to the
creation of the two States. but the
| Democrats favored the House bill.
! When the vote was reached there
! was division on the Senate substi-
tute for the House bill, but with that
amendment accepted, the Senate voted
solidly for the passage of the bill.
| The Senate substitute was adopted
as an amendment to the House meas
ure by a strictly party vote. the ballot
standing AZ to Is.
AS passed. the bill would provide
for admission as States Of the two Ter
/ ritories. but not until after Con-
stitution had been adopted by each OF
them, approved by the President and
! ratified BY Congress
Expect auick Action.
Much apprehension has been felt that
| the bill would tie up in conference with
4 the House, but during to-day's dis
/ cussion much was said to dissipate
that fear Senator Nelson, of Mime
sofa, declared he would do all that
i he could to bring about an agreement
with the House during the present ses-
sion
"Tn do all that can to bring il
about said he, '.and think we car
do IL. we ought TO dispose OF the mat
ter in two or three days
Senators Carter and Borah concurret
4 in this view. There are two reason:
why we should reach an agreement.
said Mr.. Bo.ah. "One Is that we won
go home until we get it, and the othel
is that it is getting too hot TO stay here
long.
Saying that he would prefer the Sen
ate bill TO no statehood legislation. Sen
ator Bailey declared that it would b.
some time before Congress adjourned
liz the conference committee did not re-
, port an agreement.
Representative Hamilton. of Michi
gan. chairman of the House Committe,
. on Territories. said that he had NJ
, doubt now of the enactment Of th
: statehood bill into law at this session
of Congress. He has confidence tha
the House will adopt the conference re
port when made.
, Under the bill, as amended by th
Senate, it might be two and a hal
. years before the statehood would be
come operative, and the House con
ferees want to shorten the time to tn
a spring OF 1911.
Already Prepared.
5 Speaking for the Democratic minor
ity OF the Committee on Territories
!, Senator Frazier contended that unde
Z all the requirements both Arizona an
Y New Mexico were prepared for state
$ hood. He said that there was estimate
. to be l2,000.000.000 tons of coal in Ne,
Mexico. we admit infant States. no
full grown States, and expect them t
grow" he said. Measured by the stand
ard of Arkansas. of growth and c
wealth, both Territories were entitle
to admission. he said. adding that
I. would be unjust further to Withhold
n that boon.
:. Are we to refuse to admit Arizon
\ and New Mexico because their admis
!. sion would mean four Democratic Ser
q ators?" he asked, and then declare
IS that he refused to accept such ri
o port. but II 1t were true he would ca
!, attention to the pledge of the Reput
y lican platform
Mr, Frazier advocated the House bi
i in preference to the Senate measur
d He found fault with the latter esp,
!. cially because he said, 1t undertook
. . fix the qualifications of voters in Ar
y zona. He contended also that the II
J. quirement that the Constitutions of ii
= two States shall be submitted to ii
J President was contrary to the Constit,
',s ton of the United States giving Coz
!. gress power to admit States.
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