The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-21
A VETO MESSAGE.
An Arizona Railroad Project
Checked.
The President DiSapproYeS the MariCOpa
County Bond Bill.
Explicit Reasons for Els Course - The
Measure Direct Violation Of
an Existing Law.


WASHINGTON, June 2O.-PreSlQent daf-
rison to-day returned to the House, without
his approval. the bill to authorize the Board
of Supervisors Of Maricopa County, Ariz.,
to issue county bonds at the rate of $4,000
per mile in aid of the construction of cer-
toin railroad.
He says: This bill seems to have passed
the House under misapprehension OF its
true scope and effect. In the report Of the
Committee on Territories it is said, "By the
terms of the bill the county receives bonds
In payment of the money proposed to be
advanced" In fact the bill did not provide
for loan to be secured by bonds, but for a
subscription of stock. How far this mis-
take may have effected the passage Of the
bill. of course cannot be known.
A PECULIAR ELECTION.
The bill does not submit the question Of
granting aid to vote of the people of the
county or to confer direct authority upon
however, that in April, 1889, an election
was held to obtain the views of the people
upon the question. 1t does not appear from
any paper submitted to me, who were the
managers of this so-called election; what
notice, If any, was given; what qualitica-
tions on the part Of the voters were insisted
upon, if any. or in what form the question
was presented.
There was no law providing for such an
election, it being wholly voluntary. The
election was, of course. under the manage
ment of those who favored the subsidy and
was conducted without any legal restraints
as to voting or certifcation. l have asked
for statement of the vote by precincts
and have been given what purports to be
the vote at u points. The total affirmative
vote given was 1895 and the negative 134
but of the affirmative vote 1543 were at
Phoenix and 1SS at town very near
Phoenix.
SUFFICIENT GROUNDS FOR A VETO.
If there were no other objections to the
bill, should deem this one sufficient, that
no provision is made for submitting to a
vote of the people at an election after due
notice and under the sanction Of law the
question whether this subscription shall be
made.
But again the bill proposes to suspend for
this case the provisions of the act of
p0rations to subscribe to the stock, or
loaning credit TO other corporations; also
foTbidding corporations from creating q
debt in excess of per cent of their taxable
property at the last assessment. This law
was intended to give the people of the Ter
ritOrles that protection against oppressive
municipal debts, which were secured to the
people Of most of the States by constitu-
tional limitations.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
The wisdom of this legislation is not con-
tested by the friends of the bill, but they
claim the circumstances are SO peculiar as
to justify the exception. l do not think so.
Only belief that the limit is infexible will
promote care and economy in an admins
tratiOn.
Marcopa County is one of great extent
and this great area is to be taxed to con-
struct road which can in the nature of
things be of advantage to but fraction of
it. There is no unity of interest or
equality of advantage. 1t may very
well be that section of these
lands along the line of the
road, especially town lots In Phoenix, would
have an added value much greater than the
increased burden imposed, but it is equally
clear that much of the property in the
county will receive no appreciable benefits.
MARIcoPA CoUNTY's DEBT.
The existing bonded Indebtedness OF
Maric0pa County is S272, coo, the tax as
sessment about S5,G00,000, and the popna-
tion estimated at about 1900. 1t will
say nothing OF the floating debt,
which is reported to be small, is
already largely in excess of the legal limit,
and it is proposed to increase it by sub
scription that will certainly involve $780,
600, and probably S250000. II. the bill be-
comes a law the bonded indebtedness will
very closely approximate 10 per cent of the
assessed valuation OF the property of the
county.
The condition of things in the county of
Yavapai. lying Immediately south of Mari
copa, and through which this road is also
to run, while not directly affected by this
legislation, is very instructive in this con-
nection. BY an act of the Legislature of
Arizona, passed year before the last act
of Congress to which have referred, Yava-
pal County was authorized to subscribe
$4,000 per mile to this line OF road.
AN ENORMOUS BURDEN.
The total length of the road in this
county was 147 miles, and "a miles to Pres
colt had been constructed. The Secretary
of the Territory states that the debt of
Yavapai County Is S763, 900 and the assess
ment "between $6000,000 and $1,000, ,O00"
There are seventy-three miles Of road yet
to be built, from its present terminus, Pres
colt, to the south line of the county, for
which Yavapai County must make further
issue of bonds amounting to S292, ,000 max
ing a county debt of SS55, 900 or about 13 per
cent upon its taxable assessment (taking
that at $500, 600 and per capita county
debt of nearly $50. taking the population
at about 10000 as stated in the report
of the Senate Committee. Surely no one
will insist that the true and permanent
prosperity of these communities will be
promoted by loading their energies and
their industries with this great debt.
OPPRESSIVE RATES.
] feel the force of the suggestion that the
freight charges now imposed upon the farm
and orchard products of Maricopa County
by the railroad now in operation are ex-
cessive, but this bill does not afford much
relief even in that direction. There would
be but one competing point, viz: Phoenix.
At all other points on the proposed road
the people would be subject to the exacting
of just such rates as are demanded by the
other lines. IL this bill contained some eff
fective provision to secure reasonable
freight rates to those people who are to be
taxed to build the road it would 60 far
to secure my favorable consideration.
l have carefully examined the reports of
the committees and every argument that
has been submitted to me by the friends OF
the bill, but cannot bring myself to be-
lieve the permanent welfare of the CON-
munities affected by it will be promoted by
its passage.