Arizona republican., 1909-03-09
PHOENIX BILL
 ID GOVERNOR Passage by House of Munich pal aIInprOVement Measure MAR|COPA SEVERED AGAIN
A Proposal to Establish the County of Wickenburg. Quiet Escape of Segrega- ton Bill--Good Roads Leg islation to the Front.

Peace prevailed all day in the legis- lature. There was not a harsh word spoken; not a sneering glance was cast. The session .n the house was overrun with politeness, and there was 1 everywhere a stern purpose on the part of the warning members of Satur day to do unto each other as they would be done by.
 There was not a great deal in either house in the way of actual accomp- lishment. Perhaps the most important finished measure was the bill to en- large the powers of city councils to order municipal improvements, such as sidewalk laying. street paving. gutter ing and grading This bill had been designed more especially for Phoenix, though Prescott and Tucson became interested in it. It passed the council with little opposition. but it was treat ed with coolness on its arrival in the house, and once it was recommended that it lie on the table.
 On Saturday it was considered in the committee of the whole and amended in unimportant particulars, and in that form it's passage was rec commended by a narrow majority.
 When it came up in regular order yesterday afternoon the opposition had strengthened and rallied around that provision which provided that the inn provements might be ordere on a peti- tion representing 51 per cent of the hneal feet of property within the pro- pnGad rt district argued against the bill that such a provision would freeze out" all prop erty owners who would be unable to pay for the improvement. It was pointed out in reply that it was not the small property owner who had stood in the way of improvement. It was the large owner. generally the ab- sentee owner, who stood with his feet in the trough, unwilling to bear any expense. holding his property for the unearned increment which would come with the improvements made by his neighbors. The bill went to vote and had a narrow escape. It passeA by vote of 13 to 10.
 As to New Counties.
 There was a revival of interest in county division matters yesterday, and there was even talk of the resurrection of Smith county under the name of Orange county. Some of the south side people are sitting up and taking notice of MT. Finley's efforts to do something for them. It was reported that occa- sion would be taken yesterday to amend the bill and give it a start in the direction of the house, but it was not reached.
 It is now proposed to cut Maricopa county off at the other end and form the county of Wickenburg There had been some talk of this before the be- ginning of the session and The Re publican described the project. At that time it was vehemently denied that there was any thing of that sort in the wind. but yesterday a bill proposing that very thing was introduced in the house by MT. Reed. The new county will extend from the Colorado river on the west to the irregular. saw -toothed Gila county boundary on the east. It. will be exactly sixty miles north and south, the thirty-fourth parallel ex- actly bisecting the county. Hillside, Yavapai county, will be on the north tIU llllt- lllt SOulHtIh UuuIl- dary will just take in Peoria But it is likely that that description will be changed so as to leave Peoria in Mari copa county.
 The assessed valuation of the new county will be about s1 1,O00. 900, but 1t will rapidly grow larger with the de- velopment of the mines in the western part and about Wickenburg. The new county will be ready for business on January 1. 1911.
 MT. Reed said yesterday that 1t was not the purpose to make any move in the direction of county division at this time, but a few days ago County Sur veyor Latimer of Yavapai county had been seen ''pesticatin' around" south of Wickenburg, armed with level and theodolite and othes appurtenances of his trade. It was remembered then that Yavapai county had of old assert ed claim to a strip of country on the south, including Wickenburg, and it began to be suspected that Yavapai was engaged in preparing a dispute which might have to be settled under the compulsory arbitration law. a bill for which is now pending. It was realized that Maricopa does not stand very well with the other counties. and it was feared that the award would be against it. Accordingly Wicken- burg, fearful of being snatched from the arms of Maricopa, determined to go. off Deaceably.
 The discovery was announced yes terdaN that the Graham county divi sion bill, creating the new county of