Arizona silver belt., 1896-05-21
WHY WE DECLINED.

Tor Glla county, put lt was later can celled when the governor learned that Mir. Hunt had been member of the legislature which created the office, thus disaualifying him from holding the position. Mir Hunt is a good, capable man and the legal bar is un- fortunate Editor Hackney refused two years ago to accept the appoint ment of this office from Governor Hughes, on the ground that it would cost S5 to qualify for an honorary position.-Phoenix Gazette, May i3.
 The Gazette, whether wilfully or not, has misrepresented the facts in regard to the ground upon which the senior editor of the SILVER BELT refused to qualify as immigration commissioner of Gila county. In an editorial published May 25, 1895, we expressed the opinion that the act of the eighteenth legisla- ture creating the board of immigration commissioners was invalid, and unjust in that it discriminated in favor of the four larger counties, which would reap the chief benefit at the expense of the territory. Upon these grounds we refused to qualify as commissioner for Gila county.
 Our opinion of the immigration act was sustained, almost six months later, by decision rendered by Judge Baker. On February II last was pub hshed the decision of Judge Bethune in the suit of Wolhey vs. Leitch, in- volving the validity of the act to reim- purse Louis Wolfey for expenses incarred as chairman of the funding commission. The SILVER BELT had taken the ground, even before these and other acts appropriating money for other than the current and necessary expenses of government had been approved, that they We're in contrayen- ton of the Harrison act. Judge Bakers and Judge Bethune's opinions in the cases cited are based upon the same provisions of the Harrison act restricting territorial expenditures. The acts levying addi- tional taxes for improvements to the normal school, reform school and territorial university are also invalid and will be so declared by the courts if ever brought in question.
 Exception is also taken to the immi- grafton commission act on other grounds. Sections and of that act, providing for expenses of publication and distribution of information and for salaries of commissioners, specify only first, second and third class counties, whereas the classification act, passed at the same legislative session, divides the twelve counties of the territory into six classes. MaricOpa YavaPai and Pima are first class counties, each hay ing an assessed property valuation of more than S3, 900, 900; Cochise and Coco nino are second and third class counties, respectively; Graham and Pinal are counties of the fourth class; Mohave, Navajo and Yuma are in the fifth class, and Apache and Gila, having each less than Sl 1000, 900 assessed valuation, are laboring along at the tail of the process sion, in vain attempt to meet their current expenses.
 The immigration act, therefore, pro vides for the payment of salaries and expenses to commissioners in but five of the twelve counties of the territory and, consequently, is special legislation and imperative.
 Notwithstanding that the senior ed itor of the SILVER BELT declined the appointment, Commissioner Jordan, of Maricopa county, had the assurance to demand our pro rata share of the cost of prosecuting the suit of Jordan vs. Maricopa county. and again appealed to us to contribute toward the expense of taking the suit to the supreme court, to both of which we demurred.
 There is n ridiculous disparity between the labOrions duties imposed by the act upon the commissioners and the paltry compensation provided. Com missioners are required to attend at all times to giving such information as may be sought by persons desiring to emi- grate to Arizona; to open correspond ence with immigration bureaus and give advice and exact data for the benefit of prospective immigrants; to direct the emigrant as to the cheapest snd most expeditions method of reaching the territory, and to secure reduced rates from transportation companies; to give reliable and trustworthy information in regard to localities where the settler may desire to choose home, ald to give him every possible assistance after his arrival; to issue maps, pamphlets, circulars, reports, etc, on mining, farming, grazing, timber and other resources of the territory, and to dis tribute in the cities and railroad centers of the eastern states, Canada and Europe