Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-04-27
HOUSE COMMITTEE
MAY CHANGE BOTH
CONSTITUTIONS
NEW MEXICO DEMOCRATS
| MAY DEFEAT STATEHOOD
Amendment in One Branch In
evitably Means Serious De-
lay in Other, Is Pointed Out
By Friends Of New Mexico,
Especial Dispatch to the Morning JourualI

Especial Dispatch to the Morning Journail
Washington, April 26.--It is free
ly predicted by those who have at
tended the hearings of the house COM
mittee on territories that this body
will make q favorable report on the
resolution for the approval of the con-
stitutions formed by the people of
New Mexico and Arizona. The COM
mittee will recommend that both
states be admitted to the union at
the earliest possible moment.
There is a movement on foot before
the committee to provide in the re-
mort that the act admitting New Mexi-
co be changed so as to permit the
people of that state, at the first elec-
ton after admission, to vote upon an
amendment to their constitution MAX
ing II more easily amendable. In the
case of Arizona It is proposed that
the people shall vote at the same time
on an amendment multiplying the re-
call provision so far as 1t applies to
| the judiciary. These changes pro-
vlding they are made by congress, will
not affect the date of the admission OF
| the proposed states, as they will have
already entered the union before the
elections are held.
1t is pointd out, however, in some
quarters. that the senate will be loath
to accept any changes In these instru-
| ments and that an attempt by the
house to modify the constitution of
either New Mexico or Arizona must
inevitably result in the defeat OF
| statehood at this time. The senate,
it is said, will insist on the approval
of the New Mexico constitution as II
stands at present, and 1t is believed
that there are enough of the so-called
| progressives in the senate, both re-
/, publican and democratic, to effectuaI-
ly block any attempt to change the
Arizona constitution in any materia,
particular
Friends of New Mexico here strong
" deprecate the action of handful
of men now here, claiming to repre-
sent the democratic party of New
Mexico, who are urging changes In
the constitution or in the enabling
act. While the house committee may
consent to recommend these changes
they win inevitably result in delay
such as may well put II within the
power of one or two men to conduct
an eleventh hour filibuster in the SEN
ate and thus defeat or delay state
mood as did Senator owen in the clos
ing hours of the last congress. While
tnefe Is no constitutional limitation to
the life of the present session there is
limit to the patience of the senators
many of them aged men, who are usu-
ally anxious to escape from Washing
ton at the earliest possible moment
after the arrival of hot weather and
not weather arrives quite early in the
national capital
Today's session of the committee
was devoted to listening to a long ora
tion by former Senator Blair of New
Hampshire, In opposition to the New
Mexico constitution. Senator Blair has
deep-rooted objection to the New
Mexico constitution and eloquently.
and at times hysterically, urged the
committee to prevent the admission
or that territory until her people
snail consent to frame n constitution
which will forever forbid the manu-
facture or sale of intoxicating liquor
a
the committee that he was appear
ing for himself alone and denied that
he was the paid attorney for any in
terest or organization. He said his
interest was first aroused In the mat
ter by letters from members of the
w. {. T. U. at Santa Fe. These
ladies', said the ex-senator. made seri-
Gus charges of fraud In the election
by which the constitution was ratified
ana he urged the committee to make
a thorough investigation of the elec-
tlon before taking any action toward
the admission of the new state.
Judge McGill, OF La Lande, N. NJ.
was the only other speaker before the
committee today. Judge McGlll wants
the enabling act changed so as to
provide for the submission and amend
ments to the constitution to the peo-
pie at the first election for state Of
hcers. Judge McGil also favors the
elimination of the language clause
or the constitution which limits the
right TO sit in the legislature or hold
state office to those who speak and
write the English language.
The meeting tomorrow Is expected
to prove interesting. Messrs. Andrews
and Fall are scheduled to address the
committee In behalf Of the constitu-
ton as 1t was framed by the conven.
ton at Santa Fe and ratified by the
people of New Mexico. These gentle
men deny the right Of congress or any
other body, save the people of New
Mexico or their state legislature, ia
propose amendments to the constitu-
ton under which they must live. 30
long MS that instrument ls In conform
ity with the constitution OF the United
States
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