The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-02-07
OFFICE TOO. PROLIFIC
 IF CASH
That Official Says That Profits Are
 Much Too Great.
REPORT GOES TO GOVERNOR
Numerous Changes Recommended in
 Reference to Various Fees


 first annual report of the secretary of stat, submitted this week to the governor.
 The reports shows that between February IA and December 31, 1912, the office of the Secretary collected 42,1S925. The expenses of the of flee, including salaries, for the same period were $1S,562 A leaving a net profit of more than $2O,OOO.
 This profit, Secretary Sidney Os- born declares in his report to the governor, is entirely too high He says that it is to be submitted to the legislature.
 Governor Hunt issued only seven pardons between February IA and December 31, 1912, according to the report. No pardons have been grant ed since.
 Governor Hunt issued 46 parloes, 147 communications of sentence, re- prieves and IS restorations to citi- Xenship. Two proclamations of reward and ten holiday proclamations were issued. Seven commissions of deeds and 67S Notaries public were commissioned. The number of exec utive appointments made was 104 and 51 official bonds were approved.
 The report that goes to the legis- lature will point out the absolute necessity of revising the election laws. Various changes in other laws affecting the secretarys office will be advocated strongly.
 It is provided in the election laws that by the first Monday of the third month preceding an election the sec retary shall have ready for distribu- tion printed pamphlets containing the constitutional amendments and bills to be referred to the people at such election. The pamphlets shall be mailed to all registered voters be- fore day sixty days prior to the election.
 But the constitution gives electors the right to file initiative and refer endum petitions up to thirty days prior to an election. It is manifestly impossible to have all the amend ments and bills printed ninety days before. Last year only the amend ments referred to the people by the 1 legislature, and the woman's suffrage amendment, were in the office of the secretary August 5, the first Monday | of the third month preceding the cleo tion. They were printed and distrib- uted. Later a supplemental pamphlet containing the other measures was in order to comply with the spirit of the law.
 Another point of conflict is that ty days before an election. By far the heaviest registration is within thirty days prior to the closing of the books. Pamphlets cannot be mailed out to all the registered voters sixty days before an election, because many register later. No one on earth or in heaven could comply with the strict letter of the law.
 The report will recommend strong ly that provision be made to print copies of each law as soon as it IS passed by the legislature, and their free distribution to interested per sons. Under the present system no printed copies are available till the session laws are published, at the close of the session In the meantime persons requiring copies of laws have to have certified copies prepared in the office of the secretary. A charge of twenty cents a folio is made for that work. Last spring the legisla- ture appropriated $500 to employ extra fled copies The $500 was expended and in sixty days the receipts for copies were $2072.O2. Secretary Os- born thinks certified copies should be furnished at cost, no more. Many persons were gouged heavily to pay that profit of $17OO0 and over.
 Five hundred copies of the legisla- tive journals were printed at a cost of 345O.55, an exceptionally low bid. Less than 250 copies were distribut- ed. The Secretary holds that the $345O 5 was wasted and will recom mend that no more money be spent in printing journals.
 It cost $2727. 70 to have the session laws printed, and the return from copies sold has been $921. 20. The mi tiative and referendum publicity cost $2291 .22. As a result of the motor vehicle law, $1O,45S was collected, the expenses being $99S. 50. Six hundred and eighty-five notarial were issued at $2.50 a piece; total, $1712 50.