Arizona republican., 1901-03-10
A personal encounter between two members on the floor of the house yes-

members on the floor of the house yes-
 terday. though not an m WAS every day occurrence TOO RIDTC- in legislative pro- ULOUS." ceedings, was not near
 ly so surprising an incident as the vote by which council bill No. 24 was laid on the table. There Is always a reason. or at least a motive. for a physical con- test. but we can conceive of no reason for the action the house took in respect of this bill, which Is better known as the Phoenix charter. Though under the organic act 1t was necessarily drawn so that 1t might be applicable to all cities of the territory. the city of Phoenix was believed to be the only one in which 1t would become operative. It was SO drawn that no city need avail itself of its provisions. Counci! bill 2i is the result of three months delibera- tions by the charter committee. com posed of many of the best business men and attorneys of this city. Com paratively little of it Is pu; ely original It Is an adaptation of thy best fea- lures of the charter of several cities to the present and future needs of Phoe- nix. Every clause of 1t was carefully considered from both ecoromic and le- gal view points. Many features of 1t were agreed upon after earnest and prolonged discussion and when It was completed it was believed ty the com mittee to be the best that could be prepared.
 Some cltizene and taxpayers were not pleased with certain features of 1t and their objections were presented to the council, where 1t was introduced. The council took the proper view. that it had jurisdiction over the complaints of the objectors, and went over the bill very carefully Two of the objection able features were stricken out and slight amendments were made In others SO as to conform the bill to the conditions of other cities which might want to adopt it in the remote future. There was no strenuous opposition to these amendments. and they were satisfac- tory to Dr. Ford. who had charge of the bill and who had also been mem Der of ths charter committee. He was satisfied with the bill as amended and it was passei. we believe. without dissenting vote.
 Then it went to the house. where It's course would be richly humorous if the end were not so disappointing. The bill was called up on Friday and there was a reasonable disposition to pass it without question. upon the theory that the charter committee and the coun- cils mark of approval was a sufficient guarantee. For the rcasou that two other municipal government bills which could be no more in conflict with this one than an act of the English parliament may be with an act of coh- gress. all went over for day to be considered together. it would have been just as reasonable 10 insist on the consideration of .he bill for the de- s,ruction of wilf animals at the, same time.
 Yesterday morning at Il o'clock council bill No. "A was taken up alone. It was then proposed that only the first and last sections be read. but some one insisted on reading of the entire fffty-two. tyrewritten pages by sections. The haste with which they were gone over Is shown in the fact that the reading was concluded at 3 o'clock. Two hours were spent in the consider ation of measure prepared by trained business men acquainted with the needs of Phoenix in those months and upon which the council had spent several days. At the end of the house reading. to which we dare say two-thirds of the members paid no attention whatever. one astute statesman observed that Ut was ridic- ulous." A motion was made to lay it on the table and 1t wes la.d there by almost a two thirds vo,e, the most as- founding incident of the session In the house. samed for ast )und;ng incidents.