Tombstone epitaph., 1892-05-22
A PLEA FOR ARIZONA.
Why Our Territory Does Not Receive Fair Treatment at the Hands of
 Congress,

Last Thursday during the consider ation of the appropriation bill. Mir. Holman gave up fifteen minutes of his time to Delegate Smith in which to address the House in behalf of an increased appropriation for the sursey of public land in this territory. The debate was quite long, and vigorous cross fire between MT. Smith and oth- CT members of the House was indulged in. The Surveyor-General of Arizona had asked for an appropriation of Sl5,O0O for the survey of the public lands of the territory, aud MT. Smiths remarks were against tine cutting down of this amount to less than $l,OOO. as will be done unless the new rule for allotment Of money on a basis of population is changed.
 In speaking of the enormous sum appropriated ;or the public service. Mir. Smith said: "l find that Of this enormous sum Arizona. with over 55.Oo0. .O00 acres of unsurveyed public lands, received the beautiful appro- priation of S5,000l Now, by the sort oi arilhmeticsl calculation that we find used by the Interior Department, Arizona will receive something in the neighborhood Of $500 10 make a sur vey of 55.0O0!OO0 of acres. South Dakota received last year S4O,00o, North Dakota, s40.000, Montana s75.OO0. Washington SS5,000, Wyo- ming S45.000, and so on through the list. Arizona received 5000. Now under what sort ot equitable distribu- ton that was made do not under stand and when we reach that part of this bill, applying tI the surveys I shall move an amendment instruct ing the Secretary of the Interior, or whoever has the distribution of this fund. to give at leas. an equitable dis tribution of that money.
 
 Now, the surveyor-general of Arizo- na has very moderately asked for Sl5,O00 10 carry on the surveysIn that territory. There are vast canals being opened in the territory, upon which hundreds and hundreds of homes are to be located, yet there is rot dollar to survey this land; and nc long than last week received letters from the settlers along Sulphur Spring Valley, Arizona, as beautiful a valley as the sun in his course ever shone upon. where settlers have been on the lands for ten or twelve years, and abe scluiely have never been able 10 leave their homes for six months, for no one can tell when their lands might be taSen. They have no other title than that acquired by possessio poedis.'
 Breckenridge, of Kentucky, suggest ed that the reason that Arizona never received fair play was because she gave Democratic msiorities. The large appropriation given to Montana and Dakota and other northwestern states asst year he thought was due to their having now two senators and q repre- sentative, while Arizona had but a delegate.
 Bowers, Of California, thought that tn Sn fHln
 Mir. Smith portrayed in aclear man. ner the need of the people of Arizona and closed his remarks: "I am no, here for fulsone eulogy of the pionee<s of the west Nor will take the time o. this House to recount the courage and fortitude which animated item iu the long. hard battle which the en- vironment offered, aided by too ire auent misdirrcted and unwise legisla- ton of Congress. Those who settled the west need no praise from me or anyone. They do need snd do demand fair treatment. I ask no more than this for them and l shall never ask less. They want no more than this they will never be satisfied with less It is no more than just that Arizon' receive at least $l5O05 Tor survey o public lands. and I urge upon thu House an increase of the appropriation sufficient 10 give Arizona the amour stated
 Tor ArizOna's Exhibit.