Arizona republican., 1903-01-20
PHoENIx. ARIZONA. JAN. 20, 1sO1
Governor Brodie's Message.

wholly creditable to the author. The document throughout bears evidence of thought and careful preparation. The one recommendation of sensational import is the suggestion that the filing of articles of incorporation and other documents which yield fees to the office or the secretary of the territory shall be made in the auditors office and the fees therefrom covered into the terri torial treasury.
 Unquestionably, the belief prevails that the revenues of the secretary's office have reached an enormous sum. and there is a feeling that at least portion of these fees should go to the territory, as in the states. Conse- quently the spirit of the governors recommendation on this head will have popular approval. It might possibly make the machinery somewhat awk- ward, however, should the business be
 
 ernOr makes it clear that his plan of transferring the files to the auditor is tentative.
 Undoubtedly, also, many of the state ments which have been circulated m the press as to the profits of the secre- tary's office have been exaggerated, but Secretary Stoddard himself would probably admit that the laws framed by his predecessor for increasing the emoluments of the office have yielded greater revenues than the last legisla- ture contemplated; and he would prob ably cOncede that since these revenues are produced, the public treasury should have at least some of the ben eft.
 The legislature. however, will not overlook the fact that the organic act of the territory clearly defines the sec retary's duties, and will not ignore the governors suggestion that any legisla- ton dealing with the fees of the secre- ] tary must be in conformity with the organic act.
 Most of the governors other recom- l mendations are in entire harmony with ] those which were made from year 10 , year by his predecessor and unheeded | by the legislature. For instance it is | clearly the duty of the legislative ! branch to reform the revenue laws so | as to make taxation fall more equally ] upon all citizens, and this duty should | not be shir6ed because it is a difficult ! task to devise revenue system which ! is entirely fair and not oppressive upon any class or industry.
 Likewise, it is the duty of the legis- lature to take prompt action in cloth ing the governor with authority to pro- tect the territory from contagious dis eases. Former legislatures have stub bornly neglected to follow executive recommendations on this subject, with the result. as Governor Brodie forcibly points out. that the executive is help less in the premises. The dreaded bubonfc plague is raging at Mazatlan, on the western coast of Mexico, and may possibly appear any day at some point close to the international bound ary, although the Mexican authorities insist that they will confine the plague to the state Of SinaIoa. Under the cir it is the manifest duty of the legislature to provide for q terri tOrial board of health of which the governor shall be, ex-ofIicio, a member, =rfr- { l enforce a quarantine wherever neces- sary; and an appropriation should be made for the maintenance of the board and for use as an emergency fund in the discretion Of the governor, should the situation become alarming
 By taking these steps, the legislature will go far to allay apprehension. and will minimize the probability of Injury to the business interests of the terri tory.
 In asking the legislature to provide more assistance in the offices of the governor. the auditor and the treasurer, and for better compensation, the gov ernor merely follows the obvious re- quirements of the situation. For the past few years the correspondence of the governors office has been of such q volume that it severely taxes the re- sources of the office to handle it, and this with the other duties which have multiplied, has made it necessary to employ extra help from time to time. IL was the ridiculous salary ofs6OO per year to the governors secretary. and the necessity of paying that official and { typewriters from contingent funds which led to the mares nest "investi- gation" Dy a partisan committee of the