Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-01-21
THE CAPITAL.
Interesting Legislative Gossip.


 PRESCOTT, Jan l2.-The Legislature, so far, has not accomplished a great deal The delays incident to organiza- ton and the appointment of committees have consumed'much time. It is usual ly the case with Legislatures that the first week is passed in curring the war horses to charge on and in getting the oratorical eagles in good trim so that the ambitious speakers may fly them to the most showy advantage.
 IL is, however, to be said in praise of the present members that they seem more than usually alive to the responsi- bilities and exigencies of the situation and that the major parts of them seem resolved to make the session business like and useful one.
 Even so small matter as the machin- cry of @ Territorial Legislature IS nee essa-ily attended by much expense and while the members appear anxious 10 make record for economy, yet the tax payer has here an opportunity to see what he gets for his money.
 The delivery of the Governors mes sage was carefully listened to and the Im- presslon SO far as the writer knows was universally favorable. The practical wisdom and diligent attention manifest ed by the message placed the effort in striking contrast with the glltterlng gen. eralIties and sOphomoncal plautudes with which diluted pap Governor Ere mont used to feed the Legislatures.  benefaction to this Territory. A statement of the Governor that the Ierr torial prison costs the people about S36,0OO per annum was astounding, iu view of the fact that ID many of the Eastern States where labor and its products are much cheaper, the State penitentiaries are self-suppOrting and even more than self-supporting. As the Governor states that our insane with every comfortable surrounding, medical attendance, and choice food cost Us only SIX dollars per week and our cOnvicts each at Yuma cost us seven dollars per week, notwithstanding tAe fact that they are capable of work, the inquiry naturally suggests itself whether 1t would not be better to put every mothers son of the jail birds in a straight jacket and let them be kept IL the California insane asylum at siX dollars per week and thereby save a trlhe over five thousand dollars per year. It would seem that there must be something rotten m Denmark at Yuma, but to unravel anything about II IS like trying to settle the Schleswvig- HOlsteln difficulty, the more investiga- ton ls attempted, the more profound the complexities of the situation. The Governor strongly intimates ID his message that he smelt a large sized rat but as plainly admits that the rodent alluded to managed to es- cape the gubernatorIal trap of Investiga- ton when he was on his late visit to that frigid city. The appointment of committee to investigate would be at tended by great expense, as 1t would ne cessItate either the summOnIng of per sons from Yuma, Los Angeles and San Francisco as witnesses, or else the visit ing Of those cities by the investigating committee, Los Angeles and San Fran CISCO being the points where lumber, iron and much of the merchandise have been bought for the use of the peniten- uary.
 4uc dppD4utLltul OL committees was largely influenced by political consider atlons and the Democrats m the House. and the Republicans ID the Council are making what Is known In Arizona as a ''1Oly kIck." Our towusman, Move WIcks, was made chairman of the Judi ciary Committee, which is, of course. a distinction for our county. The imp r. tance of this committee Is the mort man lfest, aS lt k probable that much will be done thIs year In the way of improving the general laws. Some bills have been introduced calling for a reduction of freights and fares, but 1t Is very proba- ble that little reduction wlll be made. as lavapai seems to disfavor anything tending to initiate against the intrUduc- ton of competing lines. They say they want to get the railroads before they regulate them.
 Speaker Rowe proves to be an impar- tial, active and wide-awake functionary. and will facilitate, by his prompt dec sIon, the business of the session.
 The people of Prescott highly esteem Judge French and show him much at tention. He Is as ruddy as a winter ap- pie and as sound as a mt. His swear ing in of the Territorial Legislature was the fourth time that he has set the leg islative ball rolling by officiating Tn that capacity. CORRESPONDENT.