Arizona republican., 1911-07-04
ON LEAVING WASHINGTON
Disposition to Let the Ter
ritories Know Quickly
Whether They Were to Be
Admitted or Not. The Box
Canyon Controversy.

President Orme of the Water Users
association returned yesterday from a
journey to Washington on official
business. He remained there longer
than ne would otherwise have done,
to assist in the matter of statehood
He left a week ago last Saturday
night, after the senate committee on
territories had voted to report favor
ably the Flood resolution.
At that time. Mr.. Orme said. there
seemed no doubt that the resolution
would be adopted by the senate. very
promptly 1t was the opinion even Of
some who did not favor the resOlu-
ton. that the best thing TO do was TO
adopt it. and thus place the matter
squarely before the president. to the
end that the statehood muddle might
be permanently cleared; that the ter
ritories might be quickly admitted or
else that the machinery of the terri
torial governments might be put into
running order again.
There is in the senate, said Mr..
Orme. no organized opposition to the
resolution. Senator Bailey win Op-
pose it. not so much on account of
the provision for the recall OF the
judiciary as on account of the initi-
ative and referendum. He has pre-
pared n speech attacking that feature
Of the proposed constitution.
He told Mr.. Orme and Hon. Mark
Smith who called upon him that he
had no doubt of the adoption OF the
resolution, once il was brought before
the senate. though he said that he
would vote against it, His manner
was not unfriendiy and he said that
it would not be with regret that he
would learn Of the admission of Ari-
Zona but he felt that it was his duty
10 oppose a constitution which he be-
lieved to be repugnant to the consti-
tuition of the United States and which
at the same time introduced a dan
gerous system into state government.
Regarding the proposition submitted
by Delegate Cameron for the amend
ment of the Flood resolution recurring
the elimination of the provision for
the recall of the judiciary. Mr. Orme
said that though such an amendment
would probably meet the views of the
president. it was impossible. Mr..
Flood and another democratic house
leader had served notice that they
would not accept that or any other
material amendment for the changing
of the constitution of either of the
proposed states.
They had just as vigorously op-
posed a proposition that had been
made with reference to the New Mex
lean constitution. Some New Mex
leans as well as democratic and in
surgent congressman desired that an
amendment be made compulsory, max
ing the amendment of the constitution
easier. But the house leaders took
the ground that any such fnterfer-
ence with the constitutions Of the
proposed states would be byOnd the
proper jurisdiction of congress.
Mr.. Orme said that the work OF
Mark Smith among his former COL
leagues of the house and old time
friends in the senate had been Of the
greatest service to Arizona and had
done more to crystalline sentiment in
favor of the Flood - resolution than
any other agency that had been ex-
erted in its behalf.
Mr.. Orme expressed surprise that
there had been any delay in bringing
the report of the senate committee to
the senate as he had been informed
by Chairman William Alden Smith
that prompt action would be taken
and at that time. Mr.. Smith believed
that the three votes cast against the
Flood resolution in the committees
might be won over so that the final
hearing in that matter. so vital to
Phoenix had been postponed by the
interior department for ninety DAYS,
at the request of the irrigation people
whose interests are adverse to those
of the Southern Pacific. While no
forecast Of the result of the hearing
could be obtained from any one in
authority. it was the prevalent opin-
ion that the decision would be in
favor Of the Southern Pacific.
On his way home. Mr.. Orme spent
a week with friends in Texas