The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1911-03-09
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Statehood Situation

SIalShOOO SllG2llOn
Statehood for New Mexico and Ari-
iona was deferred last Saturday in
the Senate by the defeat of a reso-
luton approving their proposed con-
situations. The constitution of New
Mexico, approved by the president
and the house. vas forced up by
Senator Eailey on the night session
Of Friday. Until then it had not
been generally understood that final
action would be taken on it by the
senate of the sixty-first congress.
A filibusier was maintained until
this morning, when it threatened the
defeat of several big appropriation
bills. The senate still had under con
sheraton the resolution formally ap-
proving New Mexico's constitution.
Senator Owen then insisted that by
way OF a compromise that the Ari-
IONA constitution, which only reaohed
Washington yesterday, should be ap-
proved at the SINE time, and held
the floor un5il the senate leaders D.
greed to couple Arizona with New
Mexico. After the two had been cou-
pied, however, the senate voted down
the resolution.
1t w-s asserted later that this does
not mean that New Mexico could not
be admitted by the action Of the
president. Mr.. Owen based his fight
On the assumption that Mr. T, # may
not approve the Arizona constitution
because of a provision for the recall
Of judicial officials.
In the main the vote for the resolu-
tion was cast by democrats and that
against it by republicans, but there
were exceptions
1t does not appear that The legal
status Of statehood FOR either New
Mexico CIR Arizona was changed by
the adverse vote in the senate.
To the house resolution approving
the constitution of New Mexico the
senate had attached an amendment
approving Arizona's constitution al
so, and this action was followed by
the rejection Of the entire resolution
as amended.
In newspaper circles at Washing
ton il was hastily assumed that this
adverse vote killed statehood for
both territories, so far as further pro-
cedure under existing law was con-
cerned, but this assumption VS. in
correct. ,
At most the vote of the senate, in
addition TO defeating the immedia e
admission of New Mexico, amounted
to a formal expression against the
constitution of Arizona. The whole
business was an extraordinary pro-
cedure, and was such a procedure as
Is contemplated by the enabling act
for the two territories.
The adverse vote of the senate yes
terday was not the action of "con-
gress," but merely an implied dis
approval by one branch of congress.
Moreover, it was not a formal recital
Of disarproval, such as the enabling
act seems to mean. L.
AS to Arizona, her constitution a.
waits the action of the president. If
the president disapprove, that will
eliminate Arizona so far as the OK
isting law is conceTned-whereas
New Mexico, having received presi-
Dental approval, still awaits "disap-
prevail by congress. Congress fail
ing to "disapprove" at 1.-The next reg
ular session." New Mexico will go in
by virtue of the presidents approval
provided always, that the extra ses-
sion does make en- entirely new slate.
M-Ly people have failed to under
stand the peculiar provisions of the
enabling act fer the two territories.
The act WIS so drawn as to make
admission automatic in the event OF
presidential approval and the failure
of congress to "disapprove."t
Congress will convene in extra ses-
sion April 4