The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-02-18
TWO NEW STARS
IN The FLAG.
Statehood For Arizona and
New Mexico.
BILL WILL PROBABLY PASS.
Favored by President and Congress
Leaders-The Last of the Territories
In United States Proper-WII Make
Forty eight States to Participate In
Election of 1912.

rty-eight States to Participate In
Election of 1912.
Washington, Feb. 3.-The statehood
bill for the separate admission of Ari-
iona and New Mexico has gone to the
senate and is practically assured of
passage. 1t has the approval of the
president and has been agreed to in a
general way by the leaders of the two
houses. 1t provides in the usual way
for the election of delegates to a con-
stitutional convention in each of the
territories and the submission of the
constitution adopted by these cOnyen-
lions first to the president and con-
gress and afterward to the voters of
the territories. If the measure goes
through at this session the two new
states will probably be admitted in
time to participate in the presidential
election of 1912. With Arizona and
New Mexico in the Union all the terri
tory in the United States proper will
have been carved into states. There
will then be forty-eight stars in the
flag, and no new ones can be added I'M
less some of the present states are di-
vided or some of the outlying territory
Alaska, Porto Rico, Hawaii or the
Philippines-is made into states. Ell
Their contingency is remote. For all
practical purposes it is safe to say that
Arizona and New Mexico will be the
last of the American states. The only
unadmitted territory in our own prop
err boundaries will then be the District
Of Columbia. which must ever remain
politically a No Mans Land.
Presidential Bills.
The movement to give Porto Ricans
the same citizenship rights as those
enjoyed by the people of Hawaii at
last seems in a fair way to succeed.
This feature, with other provisions re-
forming the government of the island,
is incorporated in bill prepared I'M
der the direction of President Taft,
which he viii send in with a special
on the subject. What amounts
to Introduction of bills by the presi-
dent was never resOrted to so much
as under this administration and has
occasioned not little criticism. Mem
bers of congress say that it is presi-
Dental Interference with their prerog-
atives. As a matter of fact, however,
the bills are only prepared by the adj
to be used if desired
Their actual introduction must be
made by some representative or SEN
ltor. Inasmuch as members have long
introduced measures prepared for
them on the outside, the objection
seems rather technical. No member is
to father the presidents
bills if he does not see fit.
House Rules Must Wait.
Another objection to presidential in
reference comes from the insurgent
camp. The story goes that Mr.. Taft !
called the Ohio delegation before him
md practically sidetracked the Fowler !
resolution which provided for remov-
ng the speaker from the rules COM
nittee and electing five additional
members by the house. The president |
insisted that his policies be carried |
Dut first, after which he had no OBJ |
lection If resolutions concerning the |
rules were taken up. Considering |
he number of the presidents recon-
and the fight that is GER
ain to be made on some of them, it |
s probable that by the time all these |
ire out of the way, If that time ever
zones. 1t will then be too late to do |
anything with rules or anything else
Turing this session or even during this |
congress.
Congressman In Alaska Middle.
One of the new features of the Gla-
us testimony before the Ballinger in
committee brought in the
names of Representatives McLachlan I
If California and Kinkaid Of Nebras-
IA. 1t appears that after Ballinger
eft the land office he became attorney
or Kinkaid i'm an Alaskan coal claim.
IN response to a question CLAWS said
here was nothing improper in this
lnless there had been some previous
lgreement The writer remembers
very well when he was a dis
riot judge. He represents the sand
lill district of Nebraska-the big
most of the western
lalf Of the state. He belongs TO the
nsurgent group, but ! believe did not
go through" on the conference re-
port. He is now serving his fourth
ERIN i'm the house. In one Of the mag
zine stories Senator Hepburn was
Ilso brought into the affair. CLAWS
made it plain that he is even more
Iistrustful of Land Commissioner Den
lett than of Secretary Ballinger He
Ilso confirmed the impression that
Jack Of the Cunningham group stand
he figures of the Guggenheims.
AIaska Coal Lands Of Immense Value.
In connection with these Cunning
IAN claims comes the offer of J. Z.
sellaine Of Seattle for a lease of 5000
ores Of Alaska coal land. Mr.. Bel
aine believes that his proposition
would bring into the Golfers Of the
american government at least $780,
10000. For a mere rental this is
taggering sum and gives some idea
( the enormous value of these Alaska
Gal lands sround which this Balm