The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1908-01-11
ESMERALDA COUNT N THE
SPECIAL LEGISLATIV SESSION

ESMEkAIDA lOUNlH AMI lie
SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION
SPECIAL session Of the Nevada legislature will convene at the state
capitol on the 14h OF this month. pursuant o a proclamation issued BY
4 y tho governor
Legislature ever held in this or an oher state in the Union, for it is called by
direct request of the president of the United States and for the purpose of vindi-
eating his action in invading a sovereign state with troops Of thu United States
Government. The session is called also to meet the request of the president that
the legislature of Nevada pass more efficient laws for the protection of its chi-
zens. their lives and their property
The United States troops we're brought into Nevada on request o. the gov
sitution in making the call, and h president also va only following the man
dates of the constitution when he responded to the governors call. But the con-
sitution also says that the call for troops shall be made "by the governor or the
legislature when it can be assembled" By the governor, when danger is i'm
minent and quick action is needed; by the legislature when time permits OF tits
assembling. The need # troops was imminent in thu Judgment of thu governor
and h made the requisiion The troops came and, Of CURSE, trouble vas
averted. The governor in hi call for troops vas backed up and commended by
evry right thinking and well informed man in the district Some who protested
at that time have since recanted. believing the presence Of tn troops necessary
But the presence of troops has only queted conditions for the time Of their
stay; their Withdrawal would mean instant outbreak against life and property.
sss....s w.. = - MIL ~ stas ,e05sa,urem might provide adeoua protection to
its citizens After this request and knowing the state to be n a state o. ON
puative quietude, the president reminds the governor that there is time and thu
conditions right 10 assemble the legislature according to constitutional mandate,
that the assembly, as the legislative body 0 a sovereign state, might make the
request Of the president % retain the government troops within its borders The
governor has acquieced in the letter and spirit of the presidents equest. He
viii not only ask the legislature to pas a resolution requesting the retention OF
troops in Goldhsd, tut will also ak of the legislature to enact oe protective
laws, more effective than any nov IN the statute books, for thu maintenance of
peace ant order within the borders Of the state.
There are probably those who viii regard h presidents attitude toward
this state in demanding that we enact laws to protect ourselves as offensive and
presmptious But we d. not 50 take it. We confessed our lack Of laws and the
means to enforce order when We appealed to the president for troops This state
has 20 militia. and it is tn, only state in the union that does not maintain citizen
troops The governor has n power, no strong arm of the to put down
instruction IN disorder. The Sherihs OF the various c0unteSc CONSTITUTE pracu-
cay the only peace officers in the state They IRE sufficient in normal times; but
in times If general disorder and riotng; when the sherifs themselves declare
riots and .. swept from m M to tn otner' perhaps, with ruman hordes m 10
n to ttsrpose in behalf IF the various ,communties7 Even or towns and cities
are for HI most part unncorporMed and without municipal peace officers. In
fact there seemst to be a disposition among the citizens o the entire state % re
sent any restraint II law and government
At the same time that there are not adequate laws upon the statute books ito
meet the present emergency, is nt and need NOT 70 considered a reflection upon
this state Or its people For many years the laws have met the requirements
people, AM none others with more than a thousand There ws little mining and
none through the interior of the state. There was no lawleMmas to speak Of and
very little litigation. But all Of a sudden, almost within a night the whole Stua
ton changes Mining camps with thousands OF people spring up attracting III
Adventures the outlaws of all other states who swarm where life is reckless and
every other state, sees a chance to re- establish itself in Nevada; and here came
the terrmnsts of that organization; the element which, through their scianstic
nm thes assume AK NY J" exercise u'hor' oerM NE am pfope'y an
undertake to establish a dictatorship in communities ant their weapons are in
What laws there be are swept aside am a commune exists Murders, assaults,
arson and wholesale theft are carried on with impunity The law is powedess;
courts are OF n avail. FOR they cannot convict. The officers of the LAY are in
active, as in many cases they are creatures o. the lawless
This is The situation in which Nevada finds herself today: without adequate
laws to meet the conditions And it is this question which confonts the legiaa-
turet that assemblies in Carson City on Tuesday next What will the legislature
do about it?
marty ir aoidne0 ne c0na'iont nat exists IN tisc amp today, does not e1-
it anywhere else in the state. This community is trying to rid itself OF the
element o. the union warfare has to be wagsd against the don Itself; and with
tut Law and the proper exercise law, the community mas a dangerous IN haz
have tt be invoked in other communities.
But all in all, while asking nothing Tor ourselves that would To- b of equal
benefit TO other ssnoud necessity arise aoldheld and Esmerada county are en-
titled to som special consideration from the state for there is 10 community. no
that during the year just past Esmeralda county paid into the state treasury in
bullion tax property tax and special license taxes, the enormous sum of ,isa,
the tax paid o property, personal and real and licenses other than liquor, and
s117ssl4 was paid in the way of saloon and drug store licenses -Four years. go.
Emnalda county ret ron this immense mo"r. - 40 40 sn IA r1sS u return a0ss|
to this county for It's institutions and general maintenance? About 81 600
which Is our portion Of the school tar. Think Of it; r pineteuths of the
taxes paid by this county g~s to the benefit Of the state government and to the
bsnsnt Of other counties
Let Us 90 further. The fun amount Of bullion tai collected " n. v,r,ou,