Bisbee daily review., 1915-02-25
WHO LOVES lT7


 Who loves Arizona's Land Commission? It has been ambasted unmercfuy within the past few weeks vet no champion has appeared who sufficiently brave to proclaim publicly his aectons for the pesky little trumvirate which already has the state more than S6o oO0 If this commission is unloyed and unwanted why is it permitted to exist longer? Why the difficulty in disodging it? I. can show record of good ac compished as la plea for it's perpetuation. Instead it's activities have been unuproductye if not actjly pernicious. Someone who loves Arizona less ana ne commission more, is responsible for its survival The taxpayers Of the State oathe it and point to it as a stumbling block in the path of economy It is ilesi- innate child of politics as Arizona Gazette points out by quoting Section of the Enabling Act which reads
 "Au lands .. shall be selected. ..... by commis. sion composed of the goyrnor surveyor general oth- CT officer exercising the functions of surveyor gen eral and the attorney general of the said state"
 The constitution of the state provides what salaries shall be paid to each of these officers.
 Without any shadow of authority the first state legislature by and with the consent of the governor. saw fit to ignore this provision the enabling and created a so-caned land commission which has cost the state considerably over sGOOOO
 Another bill has been introduced in the senate O. the present legislature which fl it should become a flaw, would open the doors for unlimited expenditure under this same guise of land commission.
 It gives the commission, created by it. authority make an sorts of exploitation Of state lands and t experiment without let hindrance in building reser voirs etc., and then makes blanket appropriation with out any limit to it-even into the millions
 It doubtful if such legislation passed by legislative body which conferred such auhorit, for the expenditure of public funds as this
 Expenditures too. by so-caled commission fol the creation of which there absolutely authori1 in the constitution and which is in direct conflict wis. the enabling act of congress.
 Here is the section of the bul Read it.
 There is hereby annually appropriated out of .h, general fund such as may be necessary to dera, the expenses connected with the selection of and se curing of patent to the lands granted to the state by the enabling and carry out the several puI poses of this act"
 Absolute carte blanche given for unlimited exper ditures But realizing that an auditor who .s proper onto his job might refuse draw their warrants tin section oresaIs all objections his part with this pro vision:
 The auditor is hereby authorized and directed t draw his warrant for such claims and the state treas urer is directed to pay the same"
 Arc te citizens and taxpayers of Arizona NuIin to turn the treasury tine state with its doors wd open. to Illegally erected commission to spen ue money the people have earned by the sweat C their brows or by the exercise of their brain in thi way?
 As evidence Of their lack of confidence in the pe pie the closing paragraph Of the bin declares that ath act is necessary for the public safety; that an eme gency is hereby declared to exist" and that shall come operative and "in full force and effect from an after its approval by the governor"
 1T the emergency had been declared as being an cessaw for the safety of the measure and of the in gal commission which it would toist on the people would have more nearly stated truth
 The illegalty and absolute lack of necessity such commission and h,e wide opening of the doc of Che state treasury to such commission. ereat without authority and in direct conflict with the enf ing act are only two Of many cogent reasons why Il bin should pass
 It furnishes the greatest opportunities for the mo gigantic piece of legazed graft ever conceived or CT attempted to be pepetrated on any people.
 Every man and woman who pays a dollar of ts ana every one who hopes to be able to do so so, read it and convince themselves
 should they do so, such protest would go up fr. every part of the state against lt that could not fail