The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-17
ARIZONA ECONOMY
yRANcfs j. HInKY.

I hope you will give space in your pop
ular and valuable paper to the SO few re.
marks about the bill creating Board OF
Immigration Commissioners for Arizona.
The Press Association here has unanl-
mously endorsed the bill and urged its
adoption, and in doing so has stated that
the bill meets with the appreciation OF the
heaviest taxpayers in the territory l
have taken the trouble to interview some
of the heaviest taxpayers in Pima county,
and all with whom | spoke severely con-
denim the measure for reasons which are
herein stated.
The rate of taxation in Arizona is al
ready so high that it is standing men
ace to the Introduction of capital. This
immigration bill is intended for one pur-
pose, and for one only. and that purpose
is to strengthen the hands OF weak ana
avaricious Governor, who is anxious TO
get his hands deep into the pockets OF
the taxpayers of the territory. while he is
crying economy with loud voice. Inc
plain intent of this bill is to enable the
Governorto appoint one newspaper editor
in each county as an, Immigration COM
missioner, and to thus subsidize eleven
newspapers in his interest at the expense
of the territory and OF the various coun-
ties. Each of these newspaper editors is
to receive a salary, each is to have hing
at the county treasury, as the Board OF
Supervisors of each county is compelled by
the law to appropriate a certain amount
of money. to be expended by the commits
sioner in printing pamphlets and IN ais
tributing them Every dollar OF this
county appropriation would go INTO the
commissioner pocket. One who does
not know the calibre of these Arizona
newspaper fellows might be led to believe
that they would be satisfied with these
rich morsels, but he would be sadly mis-
taken. The real niger in the woodpile
of the bill is contained i'll the latter part
Nlx.A AtNvNa NM
starts off by providing that the commits
soners shall meet at least once year
land as much oftener as they please) at the
capital of the territory, and section pro-
vides that the commissioners shall le-
ceive no per diem or mileage Tor attend
ing said meeting. This is a huge Joke
The idea of an Arizona newspaper editor
spending his time and money without ex-
pecting any reward therefor! We find the
reward, however, in that latter part OF
section which reads as follows, towit:
Each commissioner shall make report
to the Governor who shall be ex-officlo
chairman of the board, said reports to
ans in such quantities as the board may
elect, and be distributed in a manner con-
sistent with the best interests OF the ter
ritory, and the expense for such publlca-
ton and its distribu ton shall be paid
by warrant drawn upon the territorial
measured by the capacity of each editors
mouth. Each editor will have pam phlet
large enough to afford him several COM
Portable dinners after he receives that Ter
ritorial warrant. Imagine this commits
sion of editors holding that annual SEES
sion tomorrow. Governor Hughes is
in the chair and the commissioner for
Pima county, produces pamphlet as
long as the moral law containing the re-
sources of Pima county and moves that
the Star Publishing Company of Tucson,
be permitted to print 100000 copies OF
this entertaining, important and world
start ing document, and that it be allowed
therefor the modest price of 10 cents per
pamphlet, amounting to $40, 900. In sup
port of the motion the commission is
told that there are $4,000, 600 people in
the United States outside of Arizona.
and that every one of them will want
pamphlet. Every editor present will en-
dorse the sentiment and Brother Dunbar
or Brother Wolfey will second the motion.
and the worthy chairman will ask Broth
er Darlington or Brother Martin to take
the chair while he takes the floor. land
everything else in sight) to make few
well chosen remarks in favor OF the
motion. 1t is unanimously carried. and
similar motion prevails in favor of
each of the o.her editors in proportion
to his pull and influence. 1t afterwards
leaked out that the amount each one was
to receive was all arranged at caucus
held in the Governors Office before the
meeting.
Are the >taxpayers of Arizona deaf,
dumb and blind? Must brick house fall
on them before they wake up to the ne
cessity for protecting themselves? Does 1T
require unusual acumen to discover the
reason which has caused every newspaper
in the territory. except the Saturday Re-
view, to endorse this bill? Do the peo-
,,1n Of pima cpunfV think that RrOtnPr
Hughes would not make all he could out
of it? Do the people of Iavapai county
think that Brother Martin would not
make all he could out of it? Do the people
of Yuma county think that Brother Dor
rington would not make all he could out
of it? Do the people of Cochise county
think that Brother Bagg would not make
all he could out of it? The questions are
answered in the asking. The territory
is already running in debt at the rate of
about $4,000 per year, and this bill
simply means and additional Indebtedness
of at least $40, 600 per year. Nearly every
newspaper in the territory has been pat
ting Governor Hughes on the back since
he recommended the measure in his mes
sage, and especially since the bill was in
troduced in the Legislature. Each editor
appreciates the beauty OF the plums and
is anxious to secure one. In order to get
the Appointment each editor is now willing
Hughes, and after the plums are dis
tributed each recipient will feel it his
duty to throw dust in the eyes of the peo-
pie of Arizona in regard to the admins
tration of Governor Hughes, at all times,
to the end that said editor may not be
removed and thus lose his share of those
printing plnms.
Contrary to all rules of business and of
decency, the commissioners (for they will
all be editors) will have and will exer-
else the power of contracting with them
selves, and of deciding how much is a fair
compensation to pay themselves, and how
many thousands OF pamphlets. published
by themselves. it would be a good thing
for the territory to buy and pay for.
Don t everybody know, in Phoenix, that
the Gazette. the Republican and the Her
aid are all three patting Governor Hughes
on the back at present. and misrepre-
senting every measure which he is inter-
ested in having passed, because of the
printing steals which are now being
pushed through the Legi stature, the bill
for which he is expected to sign? 1t is a
well-known fact that the Gazette has not
said word against Governor Hughes or
any of his measures for the reason that it
is to get one-third of the profits arising
from the printing of the reports of the
different territorial officers and that Gov
ernor Hughes and the Republican are to
divide the other wo-thirds.
An editorial in the Star short time
ago urged the Legislature to run the ter
ritory into debt for the reason that we
have power under the funding act to Dor
row five hundred thousand dollars at only