Arizona republican., 1912-06-03
Senate Favors a Bill In definitely Providing for the Holding of an Elec- tion Under the Provisions of Constitution
DOESN'T CONSTRUE
 THAT DOCUMENT
The Matter of Adjourn ment; Apparent Physical Impossibility for House to Conclude Its Labors by Next Thursday

The tenure of office muddle at last seems to be settled. at least to the satisfaction of the leaders of the legis- lature Whether this vexed and veX- ing problem will stay put is anoth- CT story altogether yet, as the justly celebrated Mawrus Perlmutter would say. But at all events the demo- cratic members of the legislature, CT at least a shart of them. have finally hit upon a plan which they believe will bring peace and harmony and will frighten away the bugbear of in consistency which has been logging their footsteps ever since the begin ming of the regular session.
 But first il must be said that this story. like all other stories having Q do with democratic politics and poii cies, dates back to the days of the constitutional convention. To be eX- act it dates back to the specific day in the history of that interesting period when the tenure of office question was before that august body
 Persons familiar with the conven- tion's proceedings will recall that Nltn lnC tenure OI OlIlGG QutSl llOI came up the democrats promptly di- vided into two camps One of these camps, led by Judge Baker, of Mari copa county was in favor of a short term for the first set of state offices These men believed that the duty of the first set of officers should be merely to crank up the machine and get it ready for the statehood high way. The other crowd thought there should he d longer term-that those who did the cranking should guide the government motor for a reasonable time. A reasonable time. to them. looked like about three years.
 These two factions did considerable labor: and the result of their work was the construction of two sections, both of which went inc the funda- mental law One of these sections was put in by the long term men and is the general provision which seems to provide for a second state election in 1914. The other put in the sec tiOn providing for an election the coming fall That there is a straight out conflict between these two sec tions seems now to be an accepted fact The question, therefore, is, which shall prevail?
 This brings us down to current events. It will be recalled that in his message to the regular session of the legislature. Governor Hunt recon mended that q law be passed pro- viding for an electiOn for state county and precinct officers the com ing November. The legislature, for I-,on +o regarded the recommendation and no bill was passed.
 Then. when the second or special session came along. the recommends ton was renewed And, in pursuance of that call couple nf bills have been introduced designed to carry out MT Hunts alleged wishes. Also, il will be recalled a resolution de claring for an election was intro duced in the house several daye ago but that resolution died in it's infancy. It really looked as though the legislature just then wasn't sit ting up nights working out plans tc carry out Mr. Hunts supposed wish es in regard to holding an election this fall.
 But now, it is said. al is differ cnt Everything is lovely and the political goose ,s suspended at a high altitude It all comes about through the plan recently generate by the senate democrats
 This plan consists in the passage of the senate bill providing for ar election Not an election this fall particularly. but just an election 1T accordance with the provisions {" this constitution. That is what tho senate bill says. It doesn't at tempt to settle any poiTts of const- tutional law-it merely says "an cleo ton for state. county, and precinc officers shall be held in accordanc with the provisions of the constitu tion"
 It will be seen at once that thi bill has at least ore feature to com mend it. It will be constitutional a all events Furthermore it will glN the state an election Jaw. If tn legislature had provide for an cleo ton in 1912 and the supreme cour should have said the constitution meant 1914. the state would have bee without an election law. And tn same state of affa IFS w0uld have eX isted if the legislature had provide for an election in 1914 and the cour had said there should have been pro vision for an election this year. it would seem the senate bill has tn, merit, at all events
 Continued on Page 4).