Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1901-03-06
SENSIBLE AND SOUND ARGUMENTS

Murphy against the prison improve ment bill was a sound, sensible docu- ment, and although oyerridden by both honses of the legislature it will meet with responsive echo from the taxpayers of the territory. The in strument is as follows:
 q respectfully return without my approval, House bill No. 94, entitled An Act to provide funds for the en- largement and improvement of the territorial prison at Yuma, for the fol lowing reasons:
 "It is estimated that the tax levy of 3f cents upon each one hundred dol lars of taxable property within the territory as authorized by the bill will provide fund of approximately S25,- OO0.OO for the purposes stated, and this sum is entirely insufficient, ac- cording to the best information ob- tainable, to construct proper penal institution upon the site of the prison as now located and, altogether too much money, in my judgment, to waste upon temporary repairs which can be of no lasting benefit to the people.
 From the reports of the superin- tendent of the penitentiary, the hoard of control, and your honorable con- mittee, the evidence is overwhelming that no reasonable expenditure can ever make suitable prison upon the site, nor one that can contribute even minimum advantages in the way of economic management. It is conced- ed by disinterested testimony that the ground room is sufficient, and enough suitable land is not available immedi- ately contiguous to the buildings and yards, notwithstanding the offer of the town of Yuma to close certain streets and grant a limited area for prison purposes.
 Thorough investigation has been had and extended argument does not seem necessary to convince fair mind ed representatives who desire to pro- tect the interests of the tax payers of the territory and who are not preju- diced by sentiment and possible local pressure, that it would be an unwise expenditure of public funds to use any considerable sum for the purposes set out in the bill herewith returned.
 Not taking into consideration the present location in the extreme southwestern part of the territory, which compels the maximum expense for transportation of officers and con- victs, and make it impossible for home dealers to compete with California merchants in furnishing supplies ex- cept such tradesmen as live at Yuma; no land is at present available for a prison farm, nor can any suitable en- ployment be had for the convicts to lend any material aid to maintenance of the institution. If the county of Yuma were to donate sufficient land for prison and farm below the town on the Algonones grant, upon which to erect penitentiary, it would, in my judgment be more worthy of con sideration than would the expenditure ofany considerable sum upon the pres ent site, although no proper material is there with which to erect buildings, such as stone quarries, etc, to employ the prisoners and the same expensive conditions as to transportation and supplies other than farm products would exist as now.
 "The Executive withholds his ap- proval of this bill from a sense of duty as public servant, and from a sincere conviction that wise judgment and the best interests of the whole people will approve this action.
 "l strongly urge the levy of a suita ble tax for the latter purpose, and if in your judgment you do not deem it wise to change the location of the institution at this time, a proper sum will be in hand for maintenance; but cannot approve of the largeexpendi- ture authorized by the bill for the purposes named"