Arizona republican., 1890-11-01

MR. SMITH, of Arizona, introduced the follow ing bill:
 BILL
 To promote the speedy settlement of private land claims in New Mexico and Arizona.
 In March of 1888, the settlers of the Salt and Gila valleys assembled in mass meeting and passed resolutions calling on Mir. Smith to recede from his pos.- ton in supporting bills to create com mission for the settlement of the grant question in Arizona, then before Con gress. The resolution was offered by Mir. Parish and unanimously adopted. This resolution was printed and circulated through the Territory accompanied by a letter signed by J. w. Evans, w. J. Murphy and T. k. Parish, all promi- nent citizens of Phoenix, and deeply in- terested in the settlement of the land grant problem. This letter makes the following assertion:
 There has been introduced in the Senate by Stewart of Nevada, and in the House of Repre- sentatives by Smith, of this Territory, Dill to sS to Tsss S5 Saas Re zona, New Mexico and Colorado. This being vital question to the people of the State and ol the Territories mentioned, we hope you, will agitate the matter m your locality and bring about such an expression from your friends and neighbors as will assist the people ot Arizona in defeating the proposed legislation. That such legislation is instigated by land claimants and that their agents, well supplied with money, i'll the halls of Congress, Is sufficient notification to us that such law would be fatal to our every material interest;
 Signed; k PARISH,
 J. W. EVANS,
 W. J. MURPHY.
 The question was agitated to such an extent and so much influence was brought to bear upon Mir. smith that he was, for the time being, suppressed, and in the subsequent fall given large vote based on his solemn promise to intro duce and urge a bill not only to accomp- fish the speedy solution of the problem and to throw open to entry and settle ment the invalid and unconfrmed grants, but to assure the settlers upon all grants the possession of their lands and improvements. He promised the settlers rights should be protected and defended by the government of the United States, and free of expense to them. How has he fulfilled his promise to them2 One year and a half later he introduced a bill, the title of which is quoted above in fac simile.
 That this bill was prepared long pre- vious is evidenced by the fact that by it's text it is to take effect thirteen days before it was introduced.
 Was it awaiting a propitious time when the settlers, lulled to fancied security by Mir. Smiths iacile and spacious promises, would relax their vigilance?
 If it were a proper, honest measure, why were no copies ever sent to Ari- zona that we might consider it's pro visions? Why have not Mir. Smiths party newspapers ever printed the bill :? Why have none of MT. Smiths friends ever spoken of the measure, and why has Mir. Smith himself, since his return end during his canvass, concealed the fact of it's introduction in the face of de- Inands for information?
 Because he has violated his solemn promises and not one single provision does the bill contain for the protection of the settler, his lands or his improve ments, but refers entirely to @ more rapid mode of confirmation to the grant claimants.
 It is now within two or three days of the election at which Mir. Smith asks your suffrage for third term, and his actions on the most important issue in Southern Arizona would have been un- known had not the Hon. George w.. Cheyney succeeded in procuring the only known copy in Arizona of Mir. Smith's s great measure for the speedy confirma- tion of land grants to the land claimant.