The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-24
TWO TERRITORIES
STILL REMAIN So
No Action to Be Taken on
Arizona and New Mexico
This Session.
az JONATHAN WINFIELD.


Washington, July "a Arizona and
New Mexico. the two remaining terri
tories within the boundaries of the
United States, are destined to wait
until another Congress meets before
they can expect statehood. Neither
one Of them will be admitted to the
Union during the present extra SEES
sion.
This Is true in spite of the fact that
both territories have been knocking
at the door of the Union for twenty
years. II is true in spite Of the add
tional fact that an enabling act has
been passed, constitutional conven-
tons have met, constitutions have
been adopted and ratified by the peo-
pie.
The whole difficulty lies in the fact
that Arizona wants to incorporate in
its fundamental law the power to re-
call Judges. But for this stumbling
block these territories would have re-
ceived statehood at the last session of
Congress. But for it they would be ad-
mitted now and authorized to organ
ize themselves into states
To Hinder Passage.
But the obstacle remains and will
hinder the passage of the amendments
to the enabling act proposed by the
House and adopted in that body. Sen
ator Smith of Michigan, chairman of
the Senate Committee on Territories,
has made the statement that the Sen
ate will never agree to the proposition
offered in the House for admitting
Arizona. That means deadlock and
deadlock means no action.
The legislative situation Is just this:
Arizona. acting under the original en-
abling act, drafted and ratified con
stitution. the most radical sfeature of
which was a section providing that the
recall apply to the judiciary of the
state. as well as to any other offices
in the commonwealth.
This feature was bitterly attacked
in the last congress when the constitu-
ton was submitted for the approval
of that body This approval was ne
Cessary, as well as that of the Presi-
dent, before a proclamation admitting
the territory to the Union could be is
sued.
This fight over the call conferred in
the senate. The house agreed to leave
the matter entirely to the people, but
the senate refused to do so. AS re-
suit the vote on the admission bill was
postponed until the last hours of con-
gress. Then IL was that senator Ow-
en-, OF Oklahoma, seeing that New
Mexico was about to be admitted and
Arizona was not. successfully filibus-
tered against both measures and pre-
vented their passage.
This brought the matter over until
the organization of the sixty-second
congresses. Then the extra session was
called, the advocates of statehood
both in and out of congresses, prepared
to press the matter along with reci-
procity. The Democratic house in eau
Gus placed the measures on it's pro-
gram and in due time both of them
passed.
The house amendments to the ena-
bling act, however. provide that Ari-
e iona should vote again on it's consti-
tuition, and If after second vote the
people still wanted the recall of judg-
csc, then their constitution was to
automatically become operative. This
measure seemed to have the approval
OF the President at the time it was
introduced. At any rate the house
committee which considered it went
upon the assumption that the Presi-
dent would sign such a measure.
Now, however, the Senate commit.
tee on territories has reported out the
house bill with the announcement that
an amendment will be offered to the
Arizona enabling act providing that
the territory shall vote again on it's
constitution. and, if it rejects the re-