The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-12-12

per.inen. Suggestions . Our Legislature
RAwLISs, wYo., Dee. 10.

VI tut pEtstlil SccSlOu VI TIE leglSidtuTt,
every person who is interested in the
prosperity of Wyoming feels that the
few remaining days should be devoted
to solid work; and that close attention
to business will he required to COM
plete the necessary legislation. So far
very little has been done that will
materially add to the prosperity of our
young and growing Territory, and it
now behooves the members to apply
themselves to business, and complete
their work in such a way that when
they return to their homes they can
point with pride to what has been done.
There have been several bills pre-
scented for the regulation of the fees
and pay of county officers, and it is
certainly for the interest of the people
that a bill should be passed which will
do justice to the officers as well as to
the taxpayer. The bill that has been
passed, cutting down all fees and sal
aries of county officers one-half, looks
so much like going to val with a broad
axe, that the people will hardly believe
it was done in good faith. The subject
is one proper for legislation, and that
many changes are needed cannot be
denied, but the matter should have
careful attention, and be dealt with
justly to all parties. The bill offered
by Mr.. Holiday, l believe, providing
for the payment of county officers by
salary, is good on general principles,
and, in most cases, at least, the amount
provided for in the several counties
would be fair and adequate compensa-
ton to secure good men for the several
offices. Thus, by settling the compen-
sation to q fixed amount, every tempta-
ton for peculation and farming of
Offices would be removed. However,
if this act cannot become Il law, then
by all means let us have the later bill
that has been offered, which seems to
be a very good fee bill, if we must
have fees for officers. This bill reduces
the fees in many cases where they have
been too high, and perhaps as low as it
would be right to reduce them, while
perhaps some are too low, but on the
whole it is a good bill, and deserves to
become a law, unless the salary bill can
be passed.
There il another matter that should
have attention before the Legislature
adjourns, as the law las it stands) often
works great wrong. BY the replevin
law of this Territory, as it now stands,
there is no provision for the defendant
in an action of replevin to give bond
and retain possession Of the property in
controversy until the title of such prop
erty may be passed upon by the court.
Neither is there any law by which the
court ran require the plaintiff to return
the property taken to the defendant,
even though the case be decided against
the plaintiff, and that the property be-
longed to the defendant and he is en-
titled to the possession thereof. To
illustrate, we will say that A has a
favorite family horse, which every per-
son in the country knows he has had
for years, and Oh account of some par
ticular trait A would not part with the
animal for any consideration. Yet, if
b comes and says that it is his horse,
makes his affidavit and gives bond
according to law, the horse is taken
from A, and delivered to b, and when
so delivered, the title, so far as
the animal is concerned, goes to B.
and although A may fail OH the trial,
all that the law does is to compel b to
pay to A the value of what the horse
would bring in the market, and costs of
suit, but the court has no power to ever
order a return of the property. This
law should be so changed as to allow
the defendant to give bond for the
delivery of the property, in case it is
found on the trial that the plaintiff was
entitled thereto, and also that plaintiff
shall give bond for the delivery of the
property in case he fail OH the trial.
1t is hardly out of place here to urge
on every member of the Council and
House the Importance of passing Mr..
Holidays election bill. There is not
a man in either branch of the L.egis-
lature but fully understands, from
actual experience, the Importance of
this bill, and it would be well for the
people to watch the vote of every men,
Der; see whether he is a friend to hon.
esty and in favor of fair elections, or
whether he desires the gates left open
for a continuance of past practices by
the professional jobbers in politics. Let
the election bill pass by all means.
In this connection it might also be
well to call public attention to the bill
offered, providing for the registration
of voters. The vote on this bill will
show who favors honest elections and
desires that the citizens and taxpayers
shall do the voting. There is SO much
to be done, or that ought to be done,
that it is useless to refer to it now,
when only Il few days of the session re-
main, but with the bills pending the