Statutes at Large 49th Congress 1st Session, Page 170 "An act to prohibit the passage of local or special laws in the Territories of the United States" also known as the "Harrison Act" was passed by Congress to limit the ability of the Territories to exceed set debt limits.
Documents Leading to Statehood
1889
Document Type: Bills
This ambition [to become a state] did not, however, attract the attention of Congress until January 2, 1889, when Hon. Wm. M. Springer of Illinois introduced in the House of Representatives a bill (H. R. 11916) "to enable the people of Arizona and Idaho to form constitutions and State governments." The bill was referred to the Committee on Territories, but was not reported back.
- The Fifteenth Territorial Legislature passed a bill, approved March 21, 1889, providing for the "holding of a convention for the purpose of framing a State constitution." An election was to have been held November 5, 1889, and there were to be forty-two delegates. They were to receive $5 per day each, but "shall receive pay for no more than thirty days." The delegates were to have assembled at Phoenix on the first Tuesday of January, 1890. Governor Meyer C. Zulick, who was an ardent champion of Statehood, approved the bill--indeed he had much to do with its passage. But on April 9--nineteen days after approval of the bill--Lewis Wolfley succeeded Governor Zulick, and the election which the law provided the Governor should call was never called. See also: "Territorial Governor Conrad Zulick Had His Share of Trouble," by Richard Gorby (Sharlot Hall Museum)
1891
Document Type: Letters / Misc.
Arizona's First Constitutional Convention was convened September 7, 1891 and adjourned October 3, 1891. The Journals of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Arizona are from the collections of Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records--State Library of Arizona (AZDocs No.: COC 3.9:J 58)
- In September, 1891, Arizona'[s] first constitutional convention was held. It was a volunteer affair, participated in by delegates from all parts of the Territory. Among them were such well-known citizens as W. A. Rowe, H. M. Alexander, George W. Cheyney, Marshall H. Williams, Marcus A. Smith, William H. Barnes, Frank Hereford, J. W. Anderson, Alonzo Bailey, Ben M. Crawford, Thomas Davis, Foster S. Dennis, Thomas Gates, W. A. Hartt, John Hunt, William Herring, T. C. Jordan, Martin McDonald, Thomas G. Norris, A. M. Patterson, J. M. Wilson. Rowe was elected president, and Allen C. Bernard of Tucson was secretary.
1892
Document Type: Bills
"A Bill (H.R. 7204) A bill to provide for the admission of the State of Arizona into the Union, and for other purposes," was introduced in the House of Representatives by Hon. Marcus A. Smith, Delegate from Arizona, and referred to Committee on Territories, March 14, 1892; reported back favorably from the committee by Mr. Smith, March 16, 1892; passed June 6, 1892. In the Senate, referred to Committee on Territories, June 9, 1892; no further action.
1893
Document Type: Bills
A Bill (H.R. 3322) "to provide for the admission of the State of Arizona into the Union and for other purposes," was introduced in the House of Representatives by Hon. Marcus A. Smith, delegate from Arizona, and referred to Committee on Territories, September 21, 1893.
1893
Document Type: Letters / Misc.
The Arizona Convention For Statehood was held in Phoenix, November 27th and 28th, 1893. The Proceedings are from the collections of Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records--State Library of Arizona (AZDocs No.: COC 3.9:S 71)
1894
Document Type: Bills
H.R. 4393 was reported back favorably from the committee as a substitute [for H.R. 3322 ], by Mr. Smith, November 3, 1893; amended and passed December 15, 1893. In the Senate, referred to Committee on Territories, Dec. 18, 1893; reported back from the committee, with amendments, by Hon. Charles J. Faulkner of West Virginia, August 2, 1894; no further action.
1896
Document Type: Acts
The Statutes At Large Volume 29 Page 262 contains "An Act Amending and extending the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled 'An Act approving with amendments the funding Act of Arizona'" funded all outstanding debt of the Territory of Arizona and resolved issues arising from the Harrison Act. See: " Letter to Honorable B. J. Franklin, Governor of Arizona Territory, captioned 'In the Matter of Lewis Wolfley.'" (Arizona Memory Project)
- October 26, 1901, another statehood boom was launched, at a gathering held in Phoenix, called by Governor Oakes Murphy, attended by 130 prominent citizens. A. J. Doran was chairman. A delegation was selected to go to Washington to lobby for statehood. It included W. J. Murphy of Phoenix, William C. Green of San Pedro, E. B. Gage of Congress, John Lawler of Prescott, John Coffman of Pearce, and Dr. L. W. Mix of Nogales, all well-known citizens who have since passed on.
1902
Document Type: Bills
A Bill (H.R. 12543) "to enable the people of Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico to form constitutions and State governments," was introduced in the House of Representatives by Hon. William S. Knox of Massachusetts, and referred to the Committee on Territories, March 14, 1902; reported favorably from the committee, by Mr. Knox, April 1, 1902; passed May 9, 1902. In the Senate, referred to Committee on Territories, May 12, 1902; reported back from the committee, with amendments, by Hon. Knute Nelson of Minnesota, December 3, 1902; debated and request made by Hon. M. S. Quay of Pennsylvania for unanimous consent for a vote, defeated by the objection of Hon. Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana, March 2, 1903.
- After the Knox statehood bill for Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico passed the House in 1902 and was defeated in the Senate through the efforts of Senator Beveridge of Indiana, Senator Beveridge and colleagues visited Arizona, inspected the Territory from the windows of their Pullman, saw the bad and overlooked the good, and carried back to Washington the report that Arizona was not ready for statehood.
- In October, 1903, a party of Congressmen was brought to Arizona by William Randolph Hearst, then a member of Congress. The report of this party was favorable.
1904
Document Type: Bills
A Bill (H.R. 14749) "to enable the people of Oklahoma and of the Indian Territory to form a constitution and State government, and to enable the people of New Mexico and of Arizona to form a constitution and state government," [which proposed that Arizona and New Mexico would enter the Union as a single State] was introduced in the House of Representatives by Hon. Edward L. Hamilton of Michigan, and referred to the Committee on Territories, April 4, 1904 and reported back from the committee by Mr. Hamilton, April 8, 1904; debated and passed April 19, 1904. In the Senate, referred to Committee on Territories, April 20, 1904; reported back from the committee, with amendments, by Hon. Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana, December 16, 1904; debated and passed February 7, 1905; failed when the two houses were unable to agree on amendments.
- In 1905 Congressman James Albertus Tawney of Minnesota headed another group of Congressmen who came inclined to favor joint-statehood, which had reared its head, but returned to Washington pledged against the plan. In the end, however, they voted for it.
