Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20
Few Representatives Listen to
Debate on Statehood.
HEAT CAUSES AN EXODUS
Pair Clerk Overworked Coupling OPP
posed Members.
HARDY OPENS DISCUSSION
Defends Initiative, Referendum and
Reca1l-Minority Leader
Mann Replies.

Although the House OF Representatives
was in session today. with the statehood
resolution reported from the territories
committee the subject under discussion.
the attendance of members was slim and
the speakers addressed an almost desert
ed chamber. The pair clerk had been
working over time during the last day or
SO, coupling up republicans and demo-
gratis for the weekend exodus from
Washington that seems inseparably asso-
ciated with a meeting OF Congress In hot
weather.
There were only about dozen members
In their seats when the House sat at IL
o'clock this morning. Representative
Hardy. a Texas democrat. began the day
of hot-weather oratOry with an elaborate
defense of the initiative. referendum and
recall which has been under fire from
the republican side for the past few days.
Mr.. Hardy argued in favor of all progress
sive policies that would tend to closer
control OF the government for the people
and by the people
Minority Leader Mann followed Mr..
Hardy. He went with great detail into
the constitutional aspects of the recall
proposition. Both members were soaking
finished their speeches and taken their
seats.
Mostly Democratic Speakers.
Republican leaders of the House said
today that their side was pretty well
talked out on the statehood resolution.
The speakers scheduled for the all-day
session of today are mostly democrats.
The House met at IL O'Clock. In an eff
fort to give all the remaining speakers
chance to express their views.
Alleged Control by Interests.
-
Missouri, democrat, declared that New
Mexico was virtually controlled by the
railroads and large interests. and that
the present form of the constitution Is
such as to preclude the possibility of its
being easily changed when 1t once be-
comes the organic law Of the state.
Recall Of Judges Criticised.
Representative Pickett Of Iowa criti-
cised the principle of the recall as applied
to judges. Representative Connell of New
York. democrat. approved the pending
resolution. declaring 1t was the only fair
way to treat the two territories. Mr..
Connell personally opposed the recall of
judges. but said Arizona should have the
privilege OF deciding for itself.
Representative Adamson of Georgia ad-
vocated the adoption of the resolution as
q compromise that ought to be accepted
without regard to politics.
Exchange of Accusations.
Mr. Humphreys of Mississippi declared
the republican party had consistently kept
New Mexico out OF the Union. although
Il was entitled to statehood Republicans
charged that the democrats were now
trying to delay admission Of the territory
by forcing 1t to vote on proposed changes
in its constitution before that constitu-
ton was approved by Congress.
Former Speaker Cannon declared the
democrats had an opportunity to admit
New Mexico when they were in power be-
fore, but failed
Mr.. Humphreys retorted that the demo-
cratic party did not seek to delay state
hood nor to force undesirable features
into the New Mexico constitution. but
wanted to give the people an opportunity
to vote again separately on the method
by which they could amend their consti
tuition In future.