Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1897-10-11

ciary Committees are required TO
report thereon to Congress direct.
1t is seldom that Congress rejects
any OF these territorial laws
although the last Congress did SO
with law 'utaining a refunding
scheme for territorial bonds of
Arizoua.
THE FRANCHISE.
All territorial courts have the
power to naturalize citizens under
the general United States law,
but the territorial Legislature has
power to fix the period of resi-
dence required before the fran
chise can be used. The limit of
residence required in most of the
territories before man can vote
is one year.
TERRITORIAL ELECTIONS.
BY far the most important elec-
tive uiiic' tu the territories is that
of Delegate to Congress, each ter.
ritory being eutitled to one only.
This delegate receives the same
pay aud mileage as other Con.
gressmsr, but can only speak on
questions which concern his own
territory and then is generally
cut pretty short. His work is
mostly done before Congressional
com mittees. he position is an
honorable one, however, the emo
luments good, and there is very
little to do at Washington, but to
see that ones political friends get
good berths in the distribution of
offices. Both political organiza-
tons having adopted clauses in
their platforms that all territorial
officials should he appointed from
bona tide residents of the terri
tory, the delegate in Congress is
able to do n good deal for his
friends besides furthering his
own plans to be- elected United
States Senator when his territory
becomes a State. The delegate in
Congress from the territory of
Utah was elected one of its seua
tors recently when that territory
was promoted to statehood.
There is ouly one other official
elected by the territory at large,
and that is the Territorial Super
intendent of Schools. His powers
and duties are similar to those of
Inspector General Townsend aud
he cannot draw his salary in Ari-
zona without making an affidavit
that he has visited every school
i'll the territu,y at least once
year. The salary Is about S24O0
a year and necessary travelling ex
penses.
Other officers elected by the
people of the various territories
of the United States every two
years besides the delegate to Con
gress anu Superintendent of
Schools are the members of both
houses of the Legislature, and
Sheriff, County Recorder, Probate
Judge, County Treasurer, Super
visors, Justices of the Peace and
Constables for each county or
precinct.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
For political purposes the va
rious territories OF the United
States are subdivided into coun.
ties, as fast as the population and
wealth of the country advances.
Each county has its own set of
officials, such as sheriff, recorder
of deeds or treasurer and tax
collector, and is governed by
Board of three Supervisors, elect
ed every two years. These super.
visors meet once quarter or
oftener il necessary, audit all bills
against the county and authorize
their clerk I" draw warrants on
the treasurer for thu same. They
also sit al stated times as q Board
of Equalization on tax assess
ments and when the assess ment
roll is com pleied make an annual
levy of taxes for county purposes,
being limited, If memory serves
correctly, to II per cent. The
Board of Supervisors has power
to issue bonds for county improve
ments, such u. court houses,
jails, school houses, etc, being
limited to o. taio percentage of
taxable property III the county.
They also fill ali vacancies in
county offices by appointment
until the mex, general riection.
Each Supervisor also acts ms
rond commissioners for Ills own