Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-05-03
PRACTICAL REFORM.
A STRONG PLEA IN THE INTERESTS
 OF THE PEOPLE.
No Relief Possible from Machine POliti- cians--Independent Cooperation the only Hope for the Taxpay- ers---Ths kind OfLegisla-
 tion Demanded.
TUcsoN. ARIz.. Anril 2Sth.

TUcsoN, ARIz., April 18th.
 EDITOR ENTERPRISE :-I notice with considerable satisfaction, q disposition on the part of the people in different parts of the Territory, to take hold of public affairs and endeavor to get re- lief from the burthens the politicians have heaped upon the taxpayers.
 The report of the Grand Juries in Pima and Yuma Counties and the action of the taxpayers in Tombstone, are all indications that the people are becoming aroused to the necessity of taking matters into their own hands and to cut down expenses, get rid of unnecessary officers, reduce salaries and stop all grab games and wasteful extravagances. Those who have been | nursing at the public fountain and doing little or no service and receiv- ing good pay are going to kick of course, and they are going to say harsh l things of those WI o engage in this reform work. But the question arises: is it not better to receive their dislike and curses and redeem the good name of the Territory and re- uuce taxation!
 In every State, City and County in the Union, reforms have been brought about by the independent voter. The party machines are always run by
 men who make politics business. 1 The leaders of course, are generally
 looking for the larger game to be de- 1 rived from the spoils; sometimes in
 the shape of offices and sometimes in
 pet schemes from which they can de
 rive the most profit. The henchmen,
 ward and precinct workers are kept iii
 line by throwing them a bone here
 and there in the shape of a small office
 and, if necessary, if there are not
 enough offices to go round, some
 sinecure place is created which the
 taxpayers pay for, and before election
 time they are well heeled with whlsk-
 ey money to whoop up the rank and
 file; and in this way quite little army
 is created to cuss anyone and every
 one who is endeavoring to obtain an
 honest administration of affairs.
 This system has been in operation
 ever since party lines have been drawn
 and is to-day in complete and full
 working order. 1 am not aware of a
 single effort being put forth by either of the machines looking forward to the reduction of taxation and eco nomizing the expenses of the govern
 ment; but I do know that every effort is being made to combine in
 iuences to sustain doubtful schemes
 and to gain control for one or an
 other faction. On every corner, men , are being sounded on the land grant . problem or to find out whether they are sound on the Wolhey policy ready to go "whole hog or nothing on
 the Zulick record in favor of paying
 for double set officers, caused by not
 submitting the question to the courts
 at once and settling it in legal and l proper manner; and SO on to the end
 of the chapter
 l. Now what the Territory needs anC f must have, if we ever get out of the tangle the politicians have put us in
 is bold, solid front for reform, steer n ing clear of all alliances, either for ol 5 against any man or his policy or. an! : scheme. Simply to stand on th' 7 broad platform of the right, and fo t the public good, setting these per If sonal questions aside cooperating witt Il anyone who is willing to do his duty t y the people, and opposing anyone whC t Is derelict in duty. In this way, thu e Territory can be redeemed, taxation C can be lessened, our debts can be paid o our credit restored and our grant 3. school system can be maintained l. But no candid man who has observe, B the action of the two partie y for the past ten years cal e have the least confidence that thes e reforms can be brought about througl d the machines that control these or 3 ganizations. It is through their ac d ton that we have been brought int
 our present condition, and it is pre- o pOsterous tO contemplate for mo n ment that the same organizations t controlled by the same men and in 'r these difficulties The life of thei le existence depends upon the illici le gains and the pap they are enabled t IT distribute to the henchmen who d )f the work to keep up their organizf r. tions. Very few of these worker le would stay with them a day, if the 1t were not rewarded in this way. There le fore, when they meet in convention ot they make resolves of reform with n r. intention whatever of redeeming e, single promise. I believe the cond e ton of the country fully sustain IT. what have said relative to the mar in ner of working the parties, and tn IFS results are too well known to repeat. l A dual government has been run ee ming about year, a part Of the tal CT payers in this county have paid the te taxes and the balance have not, an ar, so fur the court has sustained the IT, right in refusing to do so; taxes Al st getting more and more burihensom ty debts are piling up, capital is keI w away from us, and it seems to me, ed ever there was time when men WI er- have anything left should stand t ot gether, shoulder to shoulder, an ke endeavor to stop further waste and e.
 travagance. now is the time.
 notice party organs do not pretend er- deny the deplorable conditions of u lis finances of the country. A feeble ( of fort is made to throw the blame ar nm responsibility on each other, but as fair investigation of the action of bot re- parties, when the power, will sho in that each one has gone for the spoi ey to the fullest extent that to carry o' us their schemes of plunder ready col ed promises have been made by which, nd every instance, the taxpayers ha ,ty had to foot the bills.
 ms Every effort to correct exoessi nd freights and fares has been met eg- one of these nefarious combination, les which useful legislation is blocked u as less these doubtful measures are pr is tected
 in. All this kind Of business must be sto ln- ped, every measure must be allow, to to stand or fall on its own merits, | lot man who proposes to trade should CIV put down as trickstor, corporatio lpt shouli be treated fairly but wh' al freights and fares are being chsrg ell- that prevents the development of u ,1 oo,,Dtry hx, Iaavipu thu prOducfs