Arizona silver belt., 1902-11-20
Representative PQDeT Of GI|Q County.
POLITICS OF llTIls SIGNIFICANCE.

Undue impor tance Is attached to the fact that the Twenty second legislature of Arizona will be democratic in both branches. The democratic members elect are reminded of the platform pledge of economy and warned that the party will be held responsible for all legislation enacted.
 There is good deal of twaddle in all this talk. It is fact proven by ex- perience that the political complexion of the legislature has but little bearing upon legislation. The records of the past several legislatures show that the most important legislation, and espe- cially financial measures, have been eff fected through the combinations of cognate interests. Politics cuts but little figure in legislation when it comes to appropriation bills, and ex- trayagance in leyying upon the peo- ple's money has been the gravest abuse in the legislation of this territory.
 The growth of our financial burdens has been coincident with the creation of our pubic institutions as they have increased in number and grown in size and influence, the territorial in debtedness and tax levy have been cor respondingly increased.
 It Is not politics, but the combina- ton in the legislature, in the interest of these institutions that exercises a controlling influence upon legislation. Located, as they are, severally in five different counties, legislative bills for the benefit of any one or all of them are certain of five votes in the council and twelve votes in the house, and the additional votes-two in the council and one in the house-required to carry any measure favored by the combina- tion are easily secured through prom ises to support the bills of ambitious statesmen from counties outside of the combination, aud the effect is far reaching and prejudicial to the terri tory.
 The territorial prison and insane asylum are institutions which are in dispenssble and should be we'll main. tsined. The university receives from the federal government $50, 900 annu- ally for maintenance. Bi-annually is has asked and received of the territory an appropriation for new buildings. We think it is time to abate it's de. mands, as when the appropriation made by the last legislature has been expended the university should be amply provided with buildings for many years to come. The normal school at Tempe has been literally dealt with and should be satisfied for some time with its present dimensions and equipment. The northern normal at Flagstaff is the result of legislative job and its creation was an expedient to retain the appropriation originally made for reform school, for which there never was any need.
 The territory was again victimized by the Twenty first legislature, which re-established the reform school and located it at Benson, where a building has been erected, as yet tenantless. At the time the second reform school deal was put through there was talk of mov- ing the prison from Yuma to Benson, but the change is not now advisable, if it could be effected.
 It is Idle to speculate upon what the coming legislature will do, but we hope it will show some consideration for the taxpayers and decent regard for the welfare of the territory.