Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-02-01
A DEMOCRATIC PROTEST.

p DEMUOhA lIC fhU IESI.
Charles Peterson, Mesa City demo-
crat, but good American citizen, and !
an ex member of an Arizona legisla- |
ture publishes communication in the
Phoenix Republican which applies in
many of its points to county officials,
as we'll as to members of the legisla
ture, to which it is addressed, and
which is also along lines which have
been so frequently touched on by the
Journal Miner, that it is herewith
produced:
Will some one kindly tell me why
men elected to public position of
trust-men who have to handle the
finances of our territory cannot give
US as good, business like service as
they would display in the management
of their own business in private life.
Surely, the confidence and trust the
people placed in them when they
elected them to these exalted posi-
tions should not be cast to the four
winds and trampled in the dust-as it
would appear that our honorable, law
making body is doing at the present
time. It should be the pride of every
citizen of our territory to have just,
equitable and economical administra-
ton in all the departments of our gov
eminent. Who would claim for a
moment that it would be good policy
to have two governors, two chief JUS
tices and two associate justices for
each district, or two attorney generals
or double the force in any of the
official discharges all the duties of the
office? Who would approve doubling
the expense without increasing the
efficiency of our territorial machinery?
Yet, is not this the absurd, extrava-
CANT and unbusinesslike policy which
Is being pursued by the members of
the Twenty third legislature of Ari-
IONA? Pray tell me wherein there is
any sense or business judgment in
employing such wonderful army of
clerks and attaches? They certainly
ara not necessary auxiIiaries of our
law making department. They are
only political gratis and leeches on
our territorial treasury. All who are
familiar with the clerical needs of
our legislature know full we'll that
one chief clerk and one assistant, one
journal clerk and one assistant, one
enrolling and engrossing clerk and
two assistants, four committee clerks,
one page, one sergeant at arms, one
chaplain. one janitor and one night
Waterman fol each house comprise all
the help that possibly can be used.
And these, with one messenger for the
governor, if they are competent, will
not be overworked-any of them.
And the honorable gentlemen will
find that they have all the help they
have any use for-and they could
spare some of these. And in making
this statement l know whereof l speak.
Now, Mess1s. Lawmakers, IN all
candor, why carry this lavish expendi.
ture of the taxpayers hard earned
money to such extravagant ends? Are
you not their representatives? Do you
not owe your honorable positions to
their suffrages? Then why not tran
sact their business on legitimate bust
ness lines, and not spend twelve or
fifteen thousand dollars in employing
an audience to SIT around and while
away the time in idIeness?
And again l may ask. why pay from
two to three thousand dollars to any
newspaper for publishing news which
any live newspaper is glad to have the
privilege of printing each day for the
benefit of its subscribers?
Give us good, equitable and whole
some laws, to govern our territory.
Provide literally for our educational
institutions and for the unfortunate in
our institutions, and in a business
way for our territorial necessities.
Spend our money in legitimate chan
nels for the advancement of our grow.
ing commonwealth, and you will Sc
cure the good wishes and hearty sup
port of all law abiding citizens, re-
gardless of party affiliations
In conclusion, will say that am
democrat, and have supported the
party ever since obtained my major