Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-04-02
TOO MUCH WORK
IN SHORT TIME
SAYS KE[TON
Replies to Criticism Of
Governor on The
House

| PHOENlA, March ZS.-Oaptain
Kelton, representative from Cochise
| County, is one member of the House
who feels that the lower branch OF
the legislature has performed its
work in a manner which should be
satisfactory to the taxpayers of the
state. Commenting on the situation
and while speaking to question of
personal privilege, on the floor of
the House, he said:
81 notice in an article published
in the Gazette of this city under
the date of March 10Th, wherein it
states that certain members of this
body waited upon the Governor and
urged upon him the calling of an
extra session of this body, and the
Governor replied to the gentlemen
who waited upon him that there
would be no extra session, only pos
sibly for a short term to provide for
appropriations only.
Now this article censures the
members of this body for a derelic-
ton of duty, l believe, Sir, that we
have been faithful to our duty and
acted in good faith, and attended
strictly and faithfully to all matters
of legislation, which have been pre-
scented here.
Now | think it is unfair and I'M
just that the Chief Executive OF the
State should place any responsibility
for the lack of the work of legisla-
ton or this body. We, Sir, have
sat here day after day, and I be-
lieve we have lost no time here;
we have come here and sat from
nine in the morning until six at
night, then We have come back dur
ing the hours of the night, and
worked, and what more could be ex-
pected of a legislature
Why, Sir, if the Chief Executive
expects the legislature to do ninety
or hundred days work and crowd
it into the legislation of sixty days,
it rs certainly an unreasonable re-
quest. l do not arise for the pur-
pose of criticising the Chief Execu-
tive, the Governor of Arizona, but
do speak in justice OF this legisla-
tive body, and l do consider it in
a light as reflection of this body
Now will read the latter part
fthis statement:
"Y d y Representatives
Brooks, Whipple and Lewis, mem
bers of the element in the House
favorable TO the administration call
ed on the Governor and informed
him that the House could not finish
by April 3rd, the date on which the
present session ends"
Its no use, gentlemen" the Gov
ernor replied: Il am determined not
to call another session unless you
fail to pass any appropriation bills.
If it is absolutely necessary I will
call short session after this one
ends, but will not give the legisla-
ture anything to do outside of ap-l
preparations. The code can go over
for two years if necessary"
THE Senate has informed me
that it will be through with all ap-
preparation and code bills by the end
OF this session. The responsibility
now rests with the House"
There is much alarm in the
House over the prospect"
l have failed, Sir, to discover any
alarm over this proposition.
"A number of the members have
been counting confidently on anoth-
er extra session. Now the House
is facing the prospect of not being
anywhere near through when the
Senate has finished its work"
81 don't know that this body
is required to accomplish any GER
tain amount of work in the space of
sixty days.
"As l stated before, believe that
our work has been faithfully con-
Quoted, in the discharge of our du-
ties, and I regard this statement as
a reflection upon the action of this
body, in its efforts to perform its
duties to the State; and l also con-
slider this an unjust criticism"