Arizona citizen., 1879-01-18
THE CITIZEN.
JANUARY IS. 1879.
Important Legislation.

inpoffdnr Legisidnon.
 There are three subjects that shoul,
 come before the present Legislature
 which are of paramount importanc
 and therefore deserve the most earnes
 attention of the members of that body
 Upon the action taken upon these sub
 jects the future prosperity and tranquil
 ity of the Territory will largely de
 pend, and it is certain that the recorC
 of the various members upon then
 will be matter of importance anC
 may exert potent influence hereafter
 These subjects are: 1. The Registra
 tion Law; 2. Tie appor,ionment O
 members of the next Legislature; 3
 A General Railroad Incorporation Bill
 l. In regard to the first of these, il |:
 evident that any measure that will tend
 to give a full, fair and free election i:
 worthy of support. The great danger that threatens The country seems To be
 chicanery and fraud Tn elections
 whereby the honest voice of the ma
 jority is overcome by the sharp prac
 tice and criminality of few. Every.
 where throughout the States efforts are
 being made to so guard the franchise as to render fraud impossible. The
 present Registry law of the Territory
 is much better than none, bui tC all who are in any way cOnversant with the last election and who know of the dis graceful proceedings in some quarters then to obtain votes, it must be evident that great improvements are not only possible but necessary. A good, strict registration law never interferes with the rights of legal and qualified voters, but is a great obstacle in the way of any who care to perpetrate a fraud. The present law should be so amended as 10 have the registering close at least thirty days before the election. and make say six months residence the necessary qualification instead of one year
 2. The next Legislature will be con- posed of more members in either house than is the present The population in different sections varies rapidly and the amount of immigration is very un- even. Throughout the largest section of the Territory there IS a confirmed opinion that the present apportiOnment is fraudulent and therefore tbere is a feeling of disregard, at least for the law making body and lack of respect for the laws. A Legislature has power to levy taxes, move county-seats, locate the capital, amend the school laws CT abolish the schools entirely and in many ways deal with the most vital affairs of the people Whea the ap- portionment is unfair, when a lesser number of inhabitants have more voice than a greater number, there must ever be feeling of insecurity and di>trust The people of YavaFai county, through their papers, claim over half the popu- lation of the Territory, and if they be lieve thelr own statements they certain ly should not be afraid to have a new census and honestly establish the truth of what they say. The Enterprise and the Miner both strongly advocate the of the great political par ties Tn Arizona expecting thereby to do away with the existing sectional feeling, but the experience of those who honestly tired to perfect a Demo cratic organization last year ought to show them plainly that not even the first step can be taken until the ques- lion of representation is settled. The people of Southern Arizona are con. vInced that they are entitled 10 a larger of members of the Legislature than they now have, and we believe that until this conviction is done away with but litile can be done towards the existing condition of Ter ritorial politics. There is no capital question involved in this, for the people of Tucson have nearly unanimously voted the capital a nuisance and are not anxious to have it on any terms. The present Legislature should bass bill to have new census taken upon which to base a new apportionment and, with the unhappy results of the last one before them as a warning, should place the matter in the hands of the Territorial officials and removed from the influence of county officers, as was proposed in the bill introduced into Congress hy Delegate Stevens.
 g. Railroads from the north, east. south and west are pointing towards and soon the Territory will be cross d by main lines from which will extend to all the more important mining districts and agri- cultural settlements. These roads should all be placed upon the same footing and be dealt with literally. Without railroads Ihe Territory must remain a sealed book a most, but with hem life, activity and wealth will be found in every nook and corner They will do more for Arizona than Arizona will do for them. While they should be within the law and, at the proper lime, pay their fair proportion towards