El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-17
STATEHOODCER
FOR BOTH THINK
CONGRE
Proposition Is Safe in the
House But May Strike
Snag in Senate.

Washington, D. c., April lion
every side it is conceded that state
hood will be granted Arizona and New
Mexico this session. On the promises
of the present speaker Of the house,
Champ Clark, when he assumed that
office, statehood for the two terri
tories occupies a prominent part in
the program Of the Democrats in the
extra session now on. In the senate
too, majority is in favor of it.
In the house, representative Flood Of
Virginia, the new chairman of the
committee on territories, has intro
duced resolution approving both con-
stitutions; delegate Andrews has in
troduced a resolution approving the
constitution OF New Mexico, and dele
gate Cameron has introduced g. reso-
tuition approving the constitution Of
Arizona. These hare all been referred
to the house committee on territories.
The Brown Resolution.
In the senate Norris Brown of Ne
braska, a progressive Republican, has
introduced resolution approving
both constitutions, and similar reso-
luton has been introduced by senator
Owen Of Oklahoma The Brown reso-
luton is a formal statement approving
the constitutions, section l being de-
voted to New Mexico and section 2
IS1dliuK 10 AIlZOnd- In THIS TGSOlu-
ton a simple amendment striking out
the last four words Of the preamble
and section 2 Of the resolution would
eliminate Arizona entirely from the
resolution and make it apply entirely
to New Mexico. Such an amendment
could be easily stated, would be clear
~ understood, and would probably pass
the senate were it made. Senator
Owen, however, has drafted q resolu-
ton which is much harder to amend.
His preamble could not be amended to
leave out one OF the territories with
out rewriting it entirely, while in the
body OF the resolution both territories
are so mentioned as to make any
amendment impossible without rewrit-
ing all OF it
The Owen resolution carries this
proviso also: that the legislature of
Arizona. shall at its next regular ses-
sion provide for submission to the peo-
pie OF the state of Arizona the follow
ing question: Shall the recall apply
to the judiciary Of the state of Ari-
zona?"
The resolution concludes with the
following proviso regarding New
Mexico:
That before the proclamation of
the president shall issue admitting
New Mexico and Arizona and at the
same time the state officers and
representative in congress shall be
elected, the people of New Mexico
shall vote on the following proposed
amendment to their state constitution:
Provided, that notwithstanding
the terms hereinbefore set forth
the legislature may, at any time with
in the,next five years, by a majority
vote OF each house Of the legislature
submit to the people OF New Mexico
any proposed amendment to the state
constitution, which amendment when
so submitted, may be ratified by a ma
5orfty Of the votes cast in the state
upon any such proposed amendment:
And provided further, that such cleo
tions shall be conducted by secret
ballot"
This last paragraph is evidently in
tended by senator Owen to make the
New Mexico constitution easier Of
amendment
1t is the announced intention Of
chairman Flood TO convene the terri
tories committee at the earliest con-
venient date. The resolution adopt-
Ing statehood according to the chair
man will also be the first thing con- |
sidered, so that It is probable that the |
third week Of the session will see the |
house on record tavoring the admis- !
sion OF the territories ana the battle 1
on in the senate
Here things will not be so easy, but |
still persons who have been following 1
the course Of events claim that a ma 4
5ority and to spare will vote for the /
admission OF the two territories. A /
progressive democrat and a progress |
I've republican have each introduced !
resolutions fovoring the end sought, |
so II is safe to say that the progress
Ives, irrespective Of party will be lined /
up for the two territories, these in /
,luoef II republicans and about 16 /
democrats, perhaps more, some claim /
as high as p among the democrats 1
under the Owen banner. Then there /
is q group OF standpat republicans. /
known to contain six or eight seua- /
tors, headed by Penrose, Oliver and /
men Of that stripe. who have an
1ounced IN talking Of the matter that
they will vote for the early admission
Of the two territories unless the presi-
dent asked them not to, andsthe presi-
dent has indicated that he wished j
them to make their choice unin-
fluenced- This gives three groups
at the least IS votes which