The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-02-19
MEASURES HATCHED
At PHOENIX DURING
THE PAST WEEK

TIT PA5l WEEk
Bill introduced by Senator Webb
Providing for Legislature Appoint
mOnt Is Expected to be Trouble
Maker.
PHOENIX, Feb. 16-The question
of legislative apportionment is dealt
with in Senator Webbs bill on the sub
ject, and which he claims will receive
the support of those members of the
Legislature who favor single Legis-
lative body. Such, it developed, could
not be approved at this session of
the Legislature, although Represen-
tative Powers of Maricopa county had
prepared an amendment to the State
those counties with but one state SEN
ate. Under Senator Webb's plan of
re-apportionment every county in the
State shall have one Senator and an
additional one for every county for
each 1900 voters, or major fraction
thereof, cast at the last preceding
general election. This section of the
bill would reduce the senatorial repre-
sentation from Gila, Pima and Yava-
pal counties just one-half, leaving
those counties with but one state Sen
ator.
AS to the house one representative,
under the term of the bill, is allowed
each county and an additional repre-
sentative for each three thousand
(3,000) votes, or major fraction there
of, cast at the last election. Thus
would give an extra representative,
not now allowed, to Coconino, Nava-
10, and Pinal counties, and would re-
duce the following counties to the
number of representatives shown:
COch1Se, from .....-.-I to
Gila, from ......3 to 2
Yavapai, from .....-4 to 3
Pima, from 49,. ..--..3 to 2
The other counties remain un-
changed. 1t is interesting to note that
should each of the counties benefited
by the Webb bill in the way of in
by the counties unchanged that the
measure could be passed through both
the House and Senate. One thing is
certain the bill will be a trouble
maker.
Two labor bills made their appear
ance one Universal eight hour law,
prohibiting any employer from requir-
ing or permitting any person in his
employ to work more than eight hours
in any one day, or more than fly
six hours in any one week Exceptions
from this rule are extraordinary
cases, caused by fire, flood or danger
of life or property. Violations provide
for a fine from $50 to $500. The Sec
ond is a minimum wage for women
of SO a week, applied to any employe
paid by time schedule for work. Both
of these bills are urged by the Labor
members, the minimum wage for
women being drafted after the form
of an Oregon Labor Commission or
hn TTnfx Ticrh%
Law being patterned after the law
attempted to be enacted in California.
Nearly every member of the House
and the senate has some amendment
to propose to the existing election
laws and many of these suggested
have been gathered together in a bill
introduced by Senator Martin, which
in addition to prescribingthe methodof
counting the ballots prohibits political
advertising within the fifty foot limit
and provides for the filling of vacan-
cies on party tickets after the pri-
mary election. He goes further in his
bill and prohibits the nomination by
petition of any person who was an
unsuccessful candidate at any pri-
mary election.
The first bill he has introduced in
the House was proposed by Repre-.
sentative Christy, which was a meas
ure appropriating $1,000 for the dig
ging of an artesian we'll near the town
of Franklin, In Greenlee county The
community, according to Mr.. Christy,
has been explored and indications are
very favorable that the well, if dug,
would establish the fact that an abun-
dant supply of artesian water would
be available So far the only expert
ment by the state in the way of arte-
sian well is in Sulphur Springs valley
Cochise county, although several 9TH
er experiments may be authorized by
the present legislature, bill for a
Mohave county wen having passed
the Senate.
A bill Governor Hunt has become
very much interested in is a measure
introduced this morning by Represen-
tative Claypool, which, creates the of
terms of the bill the Governor ap-
points this official at an annual sal
ary of $4,000 and an unlimited ex-
pense account. The State Defender,
in turn, is given authority to appoint
County Deputies, who are to be COM
pensated when actually engaged IN
the preparation of a case, at a rate
of 81 per day. Any accused person
brought before Justice of a Superior
Court, who makes an affidavit that
he or she is unable financially to en-
ploy counsel, are to be served by the
Deputy Defenders Not only is the
case to be tried in the lower court
but the appeals are also to be handled.
In the senate a subject which has
invariably occupied the, times Of Ari-
zona law makers at every session
since the first Senator Drachman of
Pima county has opened by the intro
duction of what is known as S. B. 85,
relating to homesteads. By the terms
0f tho hill fhe homestead aXemntiOn is
reduced from $4,000 to $4,000 and the
further nrovision is made examining