Arizona republican., 1896-04-01
HUGHES WILL NOT OIJ[4 Considers Himself Still
 in Office. Secretary Bruce Demands the
 Keys. Even Cleveland May Be Defied by the Outgoing Executive
 Officer.

The question that is agitating minds in official circles just now is ''Who is governor of Arizona?" Governor Hughes refuses to surrender the reins of government and Territorial Secre- tary Bruce, styling himself acting governor" demands them
 It had been known that demand would be made yesterday upon Gov ernor Hughes to relinquish his office Such demand was made about Il o'clock, Secretary Bruce and Assistant Secretary Devereaux calling upon the retiring official at his rooms in The Ford, equipped with a telegram from the assistant secretary of the interior announcing Hughes removal and with the volumes of the law that showed in That case the secretary took upon him self all the duties and functions of the executive.
 The party was received politely, but Governor Hughes, decidedly refused to acknowledge Secretary Bruce as the ad interim governor and the secretary returned to his office to telegraph the interior department officials for fur ther instructions. These instructions, it is expected, will arrive today, and upon them will the secretary act.
 Governor Hughes is quoted as say ing to Secretary Bruce that he would not obey an order from even the pres ident himself for the surrender of his office, as he had thI authority of law for holding on to His office till such time as the nomination of his suc- cessor should have been confirmed by the senate.
 It had been known that the depart ing governor had rx.ed upon the old tenure of office ao/ revised statutes 176O 10 sustain 1ia1l III the position that he was not busted till the senate should have assented to the dismissal or should have confirmed his success or. In support of Hughes has been said that this view was taken not from any desire to hold on Ito thank less office, but from an idea that his premature re,inquishment would be attended by dire legal complications There is not a day when the executive action is not needed upon one or more important matters and the conse- quences might be imagined where the signature of other than the legal gov ernor to be affixed to documents re- quiring the executive sanction.
 But Governor Hughes and a number of others had overlooked chapter 355 amendments to revised statutes, in which sections 1767-1772 were ex- pressly annulled and repealed.
 Now the question recurs again tc the original statutes. By section 1S41, "The executive power of each territory shall be vested in a governor who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor is ap- pointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the president
 Then section 1843 finally disposes oi all doubt in the matter. It prescribes the appointment of a secretary for each territory and Stipulates, covering the disputed point: ''In case of the death, removal, resignation or absence of the governor from the territory, the secretary shall execute all the powers and perform all the duties during such vacancy or absence or until an other governor is appointed and quail fed"
 Secretary Bruce yesterday said to 2 Republican reporter that he would dc nothing in the matter without definite instructions from his superiors and upon their decision would he act with all promptitude. He stated the law to be the same as above noted and can see TO other way out of the difficulty.
 Thus Secretary Bruce temporarily dons the robes of power, and his sec retary, F. B. Devereaux, will certify as acting secretary ito all official acts that may be by him performed This condition of affairs is likely to las for about ten days. The nomination of Col. B. J. Franklin went to the sen- ate Monday. According to the rules it must lie over day before action is taken. Then the nomination will come before the senate today. Unanimous confirmation may be delayed through stress of prior business. The commis- sion will be made out following con- firmation and mailed hither. The new governor will then take the oatf of office and will officially call upon ths acting governor, who on sight of the commission will render the office tl the new incumbent.
 The above will, of course, depend in it's fulfIIment upon the question ot the surrender of Hughes.
 But Hughes, when visited by a mem. Der of The Republican staff, expressed no intention of surrender.ng till hi. successor should have been confirmed Yes" said he, T know that the tenure Of office act has been repealed but there is another section. I can't just re. member where it is, that fixes the gov ernor's term of office as lasting till the affirmation of his dismissal by the