Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-09-21
THE CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY.
The Views of Candid, ImpaI tial andlUn- prejudiced Gentleman Upon the Sub- jeet.

caSlOneQ by the Qual government ln Arizona, and believing the time has arrived when the business men, tax payers miners and llborers should be heard upon the subject and that halt must be called and the true interests of Arizona looked after, THE ENTER PRISE deputized a special representa- l tive to interview Ex-Governor A. P. K Stafford, in Tucson, upon the subject. His views on all important questions are always sound and practical and in the present instance they will be read with increased interest by the people.
 The following is the result of the in terview with Gov. Stafford:
 .Rep.-In view of the conflict of au thority of the territorial officers, will you kindly give your views as to the best methods of settling the same.
 Gov.-It is an unfortunate condition of affairs and should be harmonized and settled as speedily as possible, but I prefer not to become entangled in the controversy.
 Rep.--We do not expect you to take sides in any factional fight, but as a matter of public policy and for the good Of the territory we should very much appreciate any suggestions you might make relative to settlement of the difficulties.
 Gov.-As to thesmatter of the legal ity of the hold-over officers or those appointed by Gov. Wolfiey, have nothing 10 say ;::i is now purely aques- ton for the courts to decide 1 have no doubt Gov. Wolhey conscientious ly believed he had a legal right to make said appointments, and 1 have no doubt that the hold overs are eq ual- ly sincere in the belief that they have legal right to hold the offices. As a matter of political propriety it would have been a gracious act on their part to have stepped down and out and al lowed the new Governor to make the appointments from his own partisan friends, whatever views they may have had as to their legal rights; but as they did not see proper to do this, the conflict of a double set of officers was forced upon the territory, and in the contest that is going on the people of the territory are very much in the position of the boy who was taking a load of hay to market: the wagon turned over and threw the hay in the
 mud, the horses became entangled in
 the difficulty and were liable to be
 seriously injured, when a gentleman came along and found the boy tearing
 his hair and Fin a frenzy of despair. He
 tried to comfort the boy and told him
 they soon would get the horses ex- tracted and the hay put back in prop CT place, when he screamed that he
 did not care d-n for the horses nor
 the hay, but that dad was under the
 load and that was what was the mat ter.
 So it is in this conflict; the people f could look on the fight for the suprem.
 acy of the officials with indifference
 but the Territory is at the bottom oi the load and that is what is the mat : ter.
 1 am informed that since this con
 flict arose, not a dollar has been paid
 for the support of the territorial prisor l or the asylum. Whosoever furnishe. ; their supplies will necessarily charge an extra sum for compensation for tht t delay and risks. Territorial warrants l. I am informed, have fallen from pa - to sixty-tive cents on the dollar ant - no buyers now at that figure. Th' s assessment of property and collection . of taxes is seriously endangered by
 this conflict, and the good name o : the territory and its financial credit i: , being seriously impaired, while the rate of taxation is burdensome in tht extreme. This conflict cannot b settled by calling each other har,
 names. and if there ever was tim , when all the officials and people shoult D pause and see what can be done to ex tricate the country from this unfortu
 nate condition, now is the time, an' ' this can only be accomplished by fol , bearance and mutual concession.
 When the new officials were appoint , ed and qualified they demanded tn ; surrender of the several offices iron '' the old officials, which was refused. 5 believe from that time to the presen : it is conceded that the only way tn new officials can get possession of tn
 archives, seals and offices occupied b n. the old officials is through the courts 5 and so long as this question is undo s termined by the courts there is no It r gal power to take from these official said books, papers, seals, etc., or if drive them from the occupancy of tn
 several offices and buildings owned b e the territory, such as the insane asy n lum, territorial prison, etc, and
 think am, safe in saying that in all sue d conflicts it has been the custom i o to treat the officers who have posses ID ion of the books, papers, seals, offic'
 and buildings, as the de factO officer
 and the courts have always held th r. acts of de facto officers legal, pendin g, the determination of the question T. conflict of authority between officer 1t If l am correct in this position u as matter if treated in this way is vel O. simple one; the officers transact u a business of the Territory until Il 1e courts decides the conflict, and u Id wheels of government can moN Il smoothly along; the debts can be pal H. the insane and criminals can be care ,h for, there will be no risk of illegal a
 sessment or collection of taxes, and j
 good time the courts can decide WI y are the rightful officers and when tn r. is decided any good citizen ougi
 and no doubt with, yield 8 williI
 obedience.
 o Rep.-It is assumed by some tn o' Gov. Wolfey having made his appoiI of ments, he is in honor bound to recC m nize them as the only official auth' ms ity.
 a Gov-Yes, am of the same opi
 ion that he should do so to the exte
 of his legal ability; but how can he nd it except through the courts? Un ld- the courts decide the question he cs