Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1901-01-30
OUR LEGISLATURE.
The Anti-PolI Tax Bill Passes Both Houses---The House Indulges
 in a Childish Act.

:. The first bill introduced in either house of the legislature was council bill number one by H. T. Andrews of this county, and it provided for re- pealing the obnoxious poll tax law. It was rushed through the council with very little ceremony and passed with only one dissenting vote just as it reached the house.
 NIT. Ward, of this county, had also introduced bill with the same object in view. It was entitled house bill number 2. No action had been taken on this bill further than its introduc ton and reference to a committee, when the message announcing the passage of Andrews council bill was received. This gave the members of the house an opportunity to show their calibre, and the disposition of this bill occasioned some debate. The difference between it and the pending house bill was wholly immaterial. The house bill after designating the act to be repealed. explained the nature of the objection to it, but could not more surely repeal it than the council bill could. It was argued that the pass age of the council measure would be the more direct way to get the odious poll tax law out of the way and at the same time would not subject the as sembly to a charge of discourtesy. But local pride overwhelmingly pre- vailed, the council bill was defeated and the house bill was passed.
 The first assembly bill was intro duced by MT. Geer of this county, an act providing for the printing of the biennial report of the territorial audi tor and authorizing a warrant to be drawn for S425 in favor of the Arizona Publishing company. The bill was read and referred to the appropria- tions committee. It was later called l up and under a suspension of the l frules was passed, having been amend ed so as to designate the fiscal period | covered by the report.
 Bernard, of Pima, introduced house | bill No. 3 in conformity with council joint resolution No. 2, providing for the appropriation of S550 to defray | the expenses of the various legislative | committees to be appointed to investi- | gate the several territorial institutions, the reports to be made not later than | February II. The bill was read and referred to the appropriations com mittee, which subsequently, favorably | reported on it. Under a suspension | of the rules it was passed.
 In the council, on Thursday, Burns, of Mohave, introduced the second and | third council bills of the session. The | first provides for the greater safety of miners, and the other is intended to make mines and claims liable for | miners wages. Both bills were given first and sccand readings, and referred | to the committee on mines.
 "The result of the Deliberations of the Code Commission" was presented ! to the council by Blair. It was a very voluminous affair, being all that one man could carry.
 On receipt of the house bill repeal l ing the poll tax law the council, in a different spirit from that manifested | in the house over the council bill pro viding for the same thing, passed the house measure, Mir. Andrews, the author of the council bill, saying that he would willingly waive the honor of being the father of the successful bill. | He wanted the obnoxious law wiped of the statute books, and so long as this was accomplished he was just as willing it should come about through some one else's hatchet as his own.
 A bill passed by the house appro- priating S550 for the expense of com mittees to investigate territorial in- stitutions was amended to read S750 and passed as amended. In the dis cussion of this amendment, Mir. An drews took a spirited part and said he was opposed to converting the in vestigation into junketing trip and would not favor provision for paying any more than the expenses of the committee. The expenses of no clerks would be paid and he would have no clerk with his.
 At Friday mornings session of the council, a discussion arose over the resolution providing for a cafe in the capital building, some of the members being inclined to ignore the governor and capitol commission in the mat ter. Final action was postponed till next Wednesday, but because the council would not accept his views in the matter, Ford withdrew from the committee.
 Andrews introduced a bill author izing outside railroad companies to operate roads within the territory and | exercise the right of eminent domain | the same as domestic roads. The | bill was read first and second time | and offered to the committee on cor porations.
 House bill appropriating S450 for the printing of the auditors report, |. was read first and second time, the rules suspended, read third time, placed on its final passage and passed | by vote of II ayes, absent.
 In the house resolution asking for a committee of three to wait on the governor to ascertain why the street railway has not been removed, in ac- cordance with notice served by the capitol site commission, was intro duced and adopted.
 An Act to Provide for the Mainte- of the Territorial Prison, was intro duced by Mir. Woods. It calls for levy of 13 cents on all property, such money to create prison fund. Kean St. Charles moved to lay the bill on the table. The motion prevailed. Motion to reconsider was offered and the bill was taken from the table. It then went to committee on territories.
 Both houses adjourned till Wednes- day, January 30, in order to give the investigating committees an opper- tunity to perform their labors.
 The legislative council was not in session on Wednesday.
 In the house the speaker appointed the following committees:
 On dedication of capitol building Bernard, Campbell, Morgan and Roemer.
 Printing Hams, St. Charles, Der hard, Baker and Crouch.