Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1895-03-20

sufhclent to support the new county
desired, and if economy be exercised, to
reduce the rate of taxation.
1t has been published and repub-
llshed in the Oasis, Border Vldette and
other papers showing the resources and
liabilities of Pima county and the con-
ditions that will exist in both counties
in the event of the division OF Pima
county, so that it is unnecessary to
take up time in going over this again.
1t has been stated that Nogales ls
strongly in favor of division, and why
shouldn't she be?
Nogales pays over $4,000 in taxes.
A conservative estimate made by an
| experienced business man, puts 1t that
Nogales business men pay out over SlO,-
O0O more by having to go to Tucson on
business before the courts and In the
county offices.
Add to this an equal amount for loss
OF time-a conservative estimate-and
division will save Nogales alone a sum
equal to two thirds of the revenue the
proposed new county now pays into the
county OF Pima. And the rest of the
| new comfy would save in time and
distance the other one-third. And as
to the county seat. The seat of govern
ment, whether of a nation, state or
county. if locate with reference to the
convenience of the inhabitants of the
region governed should be located as
nearly as possible at the center OF
population.
In regard to the protests made
against county division, | think | can
safely say that no proposition was ever
advanced suggesting change of any
kind in the condition of public affairs,
affecting either state or nation or anv
political subdivision, which met unani-
nous approval by all persons it affected.
Objections to any proposition should
be considered at their real value. Are
they actuated by individual self inter-
est? Are they such as should influence
| fair, reasoning men to abandon ad-
vocacy of the proposition? Objections
to county division by parties living out
side the proposed new county must be
from selfish, Individual interest, and as
such can have very little weight or in
fuence with this body. Those who
signed petitions in favor of county d.
vision represent over IS per cent OF the
| taxable property and over 80 per cent
OF the bona fde citizens and taxpayers
of the proposed new county.
1t is said that7a few of the heavy tax
payers protest against division. Here
comes question: Is the comfort and
convenience of citizen who pays
small tax to be of less consideration
| than those of person who pays a
larger tax? After division the heaviest
taxpayer will not pay cent more of
taxes than he now paws. Is it because
he has more wealth that his wishes
should be considered before those of his
less wealthy neig Dor? l believe in
giving the wishes of the poor man as
much consideration as those of the rich
man, and whether the petitions be few
or many, and whatever may be the con-
dltiOn or circumstances of the petit
TONER, the facts and arguments pre-
scented by them are of equal weight
and are consequently entitled to
equal influence. One protest was
made because the county seat
may not, after the division, be
placed to suit few individuals,
and as to the Orc Blanco and Arivaca dis
trict, l wrote to parties asking how
many in those districts were in favor of
county diuision, and the answer 1 re-
ceived was a petition signed by fifty
citizens from there praying for division.
They also sent statement saying
that eighty-fve per cent of all the citi
zens they met signed the petition.
Since that tim I have received other
petitions from the same place.
The fact that a portion of the land
embraced in the boundaries of the
proposed new county is in dispute as
land grants, does not enter fairly into
the question of the propriety of the
division, because to whomsoever it may
belong, however the title to the land in
dispute may be ultimately determined,
the land itself is subject to taxation.
am now paying, and have for years,
paid taxes on land claimed by the
Camou party, and the title to which is
now a matter OF litigation in the United
States land court.
This bill has been presented in other
houses in this territory. There is a
principle lying underneath it that can
not be killed. 1t will keep on coming
up until it is passed, because it is
founded on iustice, reason and right.
The people of my whole section, of
both and all parties, rise up as one
man and ask this legislative assembly
tosemancipate them, and l believe that
this honorable body will pass this bill