Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-03-23
SHOULD BE SATISFIED

!
 islature, and the final elimination of
 a body hostile to him, Governor Kibbey
 will find much to be thankful for. The
 records show that quite number of
 members went to Phoenix fully deter
 mined to hand the chief executive a
 basket of lemons, and if possible down
 him politically. Abuse was heaped upon
 the governor, the offices of number of
 his appointees abolished, and other leg
 islation enacted calculated to embarrass
 and weaken him.
 But the chief executive stood for the
 onslaught with 8 complacency and for
 bearance calculated to inspire admira-
 tion. In fact, thefe was a co-mingling
 of much that would provoke amusement
 much that would prevent the arous.
 ing of gubernatorial lander; and it was
 this tampering that perhaps saved the
 day for--the governor.
 Early in the engagement, it will be
 remembered, one of the most important
 offices in Arizona was abolished in order
 that the scalp of Examiner Foster might dangle at the belt of his decapitators. The office was abolished all right and
 the examiners job lost to MT. Foster
 and his services lost to the state, which
 every fair minded man is willing to ad-
 init was the greatest loss as result of
 this incident. But MT. Foster had to
 be downed. It was claimed by his en-
 emies that he played the game of pol itics to a degree pernicious in the con-
 duct of his office and that he must pay
 the penalty, even though the people suf- fered.
 Governor Kibbey looked on and
 smiled. He saw the rangers abolished
 and other Legislation enacted for no other reason than to take slap at him. It would be a mighty long road that didn't have a turn; and this one did have turn, but t was rounded of 50 nicely that not even the more astute of the legislators wno were there to down Kibbey realized that they were mean
 dering in a different direction. And 1t all came about when the railroad com mission bill was. passed. Here is where the governor saw a chance to break even with his adversaries strengthen his political fences and replace Mir. Eos ter in good position. There was noth- ing in this railroad commission b.ll that was at all distasteful to the governor On the contrary he liked it. He coald not have drafted bill to fit the occa- sion more precisely. The appointment of M. O. Bickneil as member of the commission would comply with the law to the letter. MT. B.cknen thoroughly understands the railroad business. His knowledge of railroading has placed him high ;n the official ranks of the Espce; and the Espee isn't advancing numbskulls and mcn who do not care fully and proftably lock after its in terests. And tho governor knew this. He had no idea that the .ailroad com pany would object to this honor being thrust upon one of their most able lieu tenants. Of course they would dread to | lose Bicknell. But patriotism isn't all | unknown quantity even with railroads. | Under such pressure they would be will ing to make the sacrifice. It was not | only boquet for Bicknell but in the gcrgeousness of the affair few flowers | were strewn along the pathway, or right of-way of the railroad itself. Of | course cognizance Of the Arizona com mission was taken in Washington and senators friendly to the Southern Pa cific and heretofore slightly dubious about kibbey might new see their way clear to support his confirmation. At all events the appointments did nct weaken him at the national capital, and that's worth while just at this juncture Of the Tn plain words, Mir Kib- bey has undoubtedly strengthened him. self in the United States senate But this is not all MT. Eibbey has done, as result of the democratic measure creating railway commission. By a simple twist of the wrist he bas taken Sims Ely from the office of territorial auditor and placed him as the citizen member of the commission This opened the way for the democratic deposed Mir. Foster, who will preside over the des tinies of the territorial auditors office at salary considerable greater than that formerly paid tho examiner, and