The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1915-02-12
A PLAIN BUSINESS PROPOSITION.


Among the several business propositions
recommended BY the State Taxpayers Convention
recently in session at Phoenix, which recomenda-
tons were placed in the hands OF the legislators,
was one having for its purpose the creation OF judi
cial districts among the smaller counties conven-
iently located from a geographical standpoint
1t is a notorious fact that in the smaller col1n-
ties the expense of maintaining Superior Courts
paving each Judge salary of 100000 per an
mum, coupled with the expense of clerks, court
reporters and deputy clerks for each small county
is an esztravagance and a waste OF public money
which would not be countenanced for single IN
slant by any taxpayer in the conduct OF his prl-
waite business affairs. If such practices were con-
tinted he would soon be bankrupt. While pur-
suing this subject we again call attention of our
representatives In the Legislature to the multiple
city of peace officers, who under the present laws
swarm ovr county seat that is also an incor-
porated town or city. We have sheriff, under
sheriff chief deputy sheriff, jaer constable, city
marshal and deputy city marshal, which we sub
NIT is at least one too many. We maintain, with
out fear of contradiction, that the duties perform
ed by a Constable in county seat precinct could
easily be assumed by the sherfs office as it is at
present organized and has existed since. Greenlee
county was created.
For comparison w call the attention of the
taxpayers and our representatives in the legisla-
ture to the counties of Maricopa, Cochise and
Yavapai counties having population ten times
greater than either Greenlee Graham with a
corresponding increase in superior court business.
YET. THESE LARGE COUNTIES HAVE
ONLY ONE SUPERIOR JUDGE.
Either the Judge in these large counties, who
receive the same salaries are overworked, or else
the position of Judge in such counties as Navajo
Mohave, Apache, Santa Cruz, Pinal, Graham and
Greenlee are sinecures at unnecessary cost and
expense to the taxpayers.
We venture the assertion that by the creation
of judicial Districts combining two or three small
counties in district that not less than FIFTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS would be saved yearly
to the taxpayers of the state thereby
Greenlee and Graham county would make
ideal judicial district and one Judge would then
not have enough court business to keep him busy
half Of the time. If either the Judge of Graham
county or the Judge of Greenlee county can sue
cessfully controvert this statement the columns of
The Copper Era at their disposal The pres
ent incumbents of this office cannot be effected by
any change that the Legislature might make or
any amendment to the Constitution that they
NIGH see fit to submit to the people for ratification,
but if we are ever to have reduction of the enor
nous expense of state and county administration
since the advent of statehood we must begin to
apply the remedy NOW.
1t should be borne in nli1id that it has only
been short time ago when Judge Lewis, under
the territorial form of government, conducted all
the court business, with the exception of Probate
business, for the counties of Greenlee, Graham
and ella.
TIL legislators at Phoenix would do well to
heed the well meant recommendations of the
State Taxpayers Association to the end that I'M
necessary Offices, both in the state, county and
precinct may be abolished or consolidated.