Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-03-18
LEGISLATURES LAST DAYS IF LITTLE
 INTEREST
oRAToRY OF CONVINCING CHAR AcTER LACKING IN LAST
 WEEKS SESSION.
DOUGLAS LOBBYISTS ON HAND
RAILROAD TAXATION MEASURE HAS HARD SHEDDING AND
 MAY FAIL TO PASS.
(By sam Correspondent. ]

(By Ssaff Correspondent.)
 PIiOENIX, March l5.-The closing days of the twenty-ffth legislative as- sembly have been extremely dull and uninteresting to the average spectator. The past week was devoted to the pass age of many bills which had smmbered in the committees from the early part of the session, but much greater DOT tion of the time was taken up with the tedious thrashing out of doubtful mea- sures in the committee of the whole. No brilliant oratory enlivened the day. In fact, except for one speech by Speak CT Webb, and minor word thrusts be- tween tho republican and democratic leaders, oratory has been almost honest in the assembly The council chamber has rung with the outburst of O'Neill, the sharp, witty, and sometimes unrea- sonable sarcasm of St. Charles, the suff rage debate of Weedn and Goodrich. But take it all the way along the pike, as Kean St. Charles would say, the mem bers can point 10 no addresses which have changed the fate of one bill.
 While the council has had it's inning for worrying over the settlement of local bridge quarrels, the house has rot been immune. Saturday afternoon the Duffy bill empowering city councils to fix water rates was instrumental in evoking considerable eross-fring be- tween Morris, Bailey, DeSouza and At torney Lockwood of Douglas, who was permitted the privileges of the floor to place the case of the Douglas citizens vs. the Douglas Improve0nt company before the house. MT. Callahan, repre- senting the company, had been on the ground for several days, but the under current indicated that sentiment was very strong for the bill. Three objec- tions had been raised, i. e.: That the city council of Douglas is prejudiced against the company; that the city is negotiating for the purchase of tho plant, and that the passage of the mea- sure would influence, or was intended to influence, the selling price asked by the water coutpany. MT. Lockwood claimed that none of these contentious would hold water, and it was purely question of obtaining relief from a condition that was oppressive, where rates were two or three times as high as they ought to be, and give the com pany a reasonable compensation.
 The Douglas Improvement company is operating without franchise, and the l franchise offered was voted down by the people. MT. Lockwood was willing to have the bill amended so as to be effective after the next city election in l9l0 Bundles of telegrams were on the members desks, the senders being on both sides of the question. Mir De Souza succeeded in getting before the body that most of those opposed to the bill were from people who were either directors or stockholders in the com pany, or in allied institutions.
 This had m effect on the members, but when the motion to suspend the rules and place it on final passage was made, the count revealed that the measure had bare majority of two votes to spare. Undoubtedly the bill would have passed the house Saturday but the result may be changed by n straw
 It is understood that Mir. Cunningham believes there is no chance for the passage of the bill in the council.
 Railroad Taxation
 Another measure which has had hard slcdding is the railroad taxation exemp- tion bill, which provides as now amend. ed that any lino constructed within one year shall be exempt from taxes for ten years, but the articles of incorporation must be filed within fifteen days after the passage of the act and building be- gun in ninety days thereafter. Con struction must proceed at the rate of two miles per month. The members who are opposed to any concessions to the railroads are afraid there is a joker in the bill, and that their con stituterts will blame them if it passes. Some think the Southern Pacific is back of the measure, and point. ont as proof the fact that l.. II. Landis, general agent for the Randolph lines at Phoe- nix, is in the gallery daily when the bill is before the council Landis and 2 company have a tract of land in the Buckeye country which is primarily interested in the passage of the exemp, ton law. Undoubtedly this line will be built under the act, but by whom no one knows but Landis. The measure has been referred and re-referred, and led noTadie life. It is extremely doubtful if it ever gets to the gover- nor, in time for his consideration.
 Fellow Servant Law
 General Manager Clark of the United Verde is very much disappointed IT.