Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-22
ARIZONA TO CURB
FRANCHISE STEALS
New State Will Petition Congress
to Preserve Rights of School
Land Settlers
FORBID PERPETUAL PRIVILEGE
ProhibitioniSt Threatens to 0p-
pose Constitution if Home Rule
for Cities Is Allowed
(Associated Press)

PHOENIX, Ariz., Nov. 21.---To hasten
the progress of the constitutional con-
vention so that the draft may be COM
pleted on the day set for final adjourn
ment, President Hunt issued an edict
today that all remaining committee re-
ports must be submitted tomorrow
morning Most of the propositions in
troduced have been disposed Of but
several committees still retain some of
the propositions submitted to them. The
state and school lands committee,
which has had under consideration for
over a month the measure for the dis
posal of public lands, made its report
today, recommending the adoption of
the measure drafted by that commit
tee, and also recommended the adop-
ton of a memorial to congress inter-
ceding for the present lessees of school
lands under irrigation. Under the fed
eral reclamation act all owners of land
under the Roosevelt irrigation project
must give mortgages on their land to
protect the payment to the government
for water rights. At present the school
land ranchers pay in advance for wa
ter but two years hence the water will
be cut off unless they give mortgages.
The memorial asks congress to provide
that all purchasers of school land un-
der irrigation pay for the appraised
value of improvements as we'll as of the
all public lands shall be sold to the
highest bidder. Such action is designed
as O. safeguard for farmers who have
for years cultivated school lands, in
the belief that they would be given
preference in purchase when the final
disposition is made.
DRY" OPPOSES HOME RULE
Several committees, among them the
judiciary, have completed their work.
and it is understood that the remainder
will be ready to report tomorrow In
accordance with the suggestion of the
president.
The convention obviated the necessi-
ty of q night session today by dispos-
ing of twenty-eight propositions either
by adoption or indefinite postponement.
The most important measure adopted
was that giving home rule to all cities
over $500, providing that each may
frame its own charter. 1t also provides
for municipal ownership and prohibits
the granting of perpetual franchises.
The proposition relating to counties
was also adopted after being trimmed
to a third of its original size, the ma
jority of the convention showing dis
position to eliminate all matters of
purely legislative detail.
Crutchheld, the minister member from
Maricopa county, opposed the adoption
of the city government measure on the
ground that 1t operated against prohi-
bition, and intimated that the prohibi-
tionists would oppose the ratification of
the constitution IL that article was
adopted. He was practically alone In
his contention.
The morning session was enlivened
by a resolution introduced by the print
ing clerks committee recommending
that five committee clerks be dispensed
with, but the committee took the view
that it was too late in the day to cur
tail expenses, and the resolution was
voted down by an overwhelming ma
jority. Connolly proposed that at least
fifteen days notice be given before any
attache could be discharged. The con-
vention will adjourn in eighteen days.
At the morning session is was also de-
cided to make county assessors elective
officers, the amendment prevailing by a
vote of % to 10.