Arizona citizen., 1878-05-10
Powers Territories May Grant tO
 Corporations and Courts.

Mexico and Wyoming, has been brought to the attention of Congress, and that body is thoroughly investigat ing and revising its former grant of powers to the Territories and explain. ing what was intended and may be done under it. Following important proceedings were had in the Senate, April 19:
 The next bill on the Calendar was the bIll (S. No. 3SO) explanatory of section 1889 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and to ratify and confirm certain territorial legislation, and for other purposes; which was considered as in Committee of the Whole.
 The bill was reported from the Com mittee on Territories, with amend ments.
 The first amendment was, in line 10 of section 1, after the word "them !" and before the word corporate" to insert the" and after the word privileges" in line Il, to insert " necessary to their local administra- tion;" so as to read:
 That the words the Legislative As semblies of the several Territories shall not grant private charters or special privileges in section 1889 of the Revised Statutes of the United States shall not be construed as pro. hibiung the Legislative Assemblies of the several Territories of the United States from creating towns, cities, or other municipal corporations, and pro viding for the government of the same, and conferring upon them the corpOr- ate powers and privileges necessary to their local administration, by either general or special acts.
 The amendment was agreed to.
 The next amendment was, in line 15 of section 1, after the word "confer- ring" to insert such" and in line 16, after the word same" to insert as were necessary to their local admins tration;" so as to read:
 And that all general and special acts of such Legislative Assemblies heretofore passed creating and pro vidiug for the government of towns, cities, or other municipal corporations, and conferring such rights, powers, and privileges upon the same, as were necessary to their local administration, be, and the same are hereby. ratified and confirmed and declared to be valid. any law 10 the contrary nOtwithstand- ing, subjec-, however, to amendment or repeal hereafter by such territorial Assemblies.
 The amendment was agreed Co.
 The next amendment was at the end of the first section to insert:
 But nothing herein shall have the effect to create any private right, eX- cept that of holding and executing municipal offices, or to divest any such right, or to make valid or invalid any contract or obligation heretofore made by or on behalf of any such town, city, or otLer municipal corporation, or to authorize any such corporation to incur hereafter any debt or obligation other than such as shall be necessary to the administration of it's internal af- fairs.
 The amendment was agreed 10.
 The next amendment was to strike out the second section, in the following words:
 SEC. 2. That the Legislative Assem- plies of the several Territories are hereby authorized and empowered to create a court for any town or city within such Territories, 10 be called | the recorders court of such town or city, to provide for the election and qualification of the judges thereof and to define the jurisdiction of such courts: Provided, That such record CTS courts shall not have jurisdiction in any case in which the title to land or the boundary thereof shall in any wise come in question, or when the debt or damages claimed shall exceed the sum of $500, or in any criminal case where the charge is felony, ex- cept for the purpose of commitment for trial in the district courts; And pro- vided further, That appeals shall lie in all cases, both civil and criminal, from said recorders court to the dis trict court, under such rules and regu- lations as may be prescribed by the Legislative Assemblies of such Ter ritories.
 Mr. Davis, of Illinois. If the Senator from Arkansas, who reported ms Olll, would state the amendments, &c-, at length, l should be pleased to hear him.
 MT. Garland. It will be observed that the second section of the original bill gave authority to create new courts in cities ard towns. On looking over the territorial legislation of this conn try the committee found that the or dinary justices of the peace, or magis- trates. as they are generally termed, have been in most instances the only courts they have had of this character, and always sufficient for all purposes sbair nifiae auI |