The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-03-19
THE SHAME OF lT-AND THE BLAME.

credit.
Fifty-hse thousand dollars have been expended.
Very nearly 81 900 day for 6O-day session, and
considerably more than $1,000 per day for the 4s
days actually spent in the affairs of state
The great issues which were squarely before it
the levying of and developing system of equitable
and Just mine taxation; the abolition of the land
commission and the commission; the proper
auditing and control of state departments; the de-
wise of system whereby the voters of the state
may have some intelligent idea of where their money
is going; the creation of board public welfare,
the abolition of the extravagant board
of control; the investigation of alleged mismanage-
ment of state nstitutions-all every one of them,
have fallen by the wayside.
The general appropriation bill has failed in the
house of its origin. and, barring early compromise.
the state will be without funds for the conduct
Of its business
Sixty days of bubble, factional quarres. log roll
ing and lobbying in the lower house responsible
for this outrage upon the people of Arizona, who
must put up the $4,000 it cost and the $4,000 or
more it will yet cost before the tangle is unskein
ed.
Is it not shame that such a condition is posi-
BILE in a civilized American commonwealth where
the people are supposed to rule?
Fortunately, however. it is possible to put ones
finger directly upon the cause OF the trouble.
AS straight as plunb-lne it leads to the door
Of the executive this socalled admins
tration lobby" which blocked all legislation in
the lower house. is directly Inevitably and ireyoca
bly, associated with the men who are at the head of
the ship of state
There is no slightest to doubt that mine
tax bill. land bill. tax commission bill. public
welfare bill. economical expenditure BILL bank
-,
legislation for which the state is literally suffering
could have been passed by the Second legislature
in equity and mutual agreement had the ruleor-ruin
policy Of the administration been withdrawn and
the house lobby instructed to do its duty
Senator stapley of Maricopa introduced ser
les bills which. had they laws would have
gone far in the Strengthening of the executive
tangle. Thees included the public welfare BILL
the tax commission bill, and measure providing for
economical expenditure of, public funds
An example of how the lobby worked is found
In the last mentioned act, the only which got
as far as the house.
1t provided that state automobiles should
be purchased or operated or chauneurs paid out of
public funds except under express authority of the
legislature. and it provided for maximum expense
account of state officials when travelling. When
the bill reached the the administration lobby
was instructed that these two objectionable"
lures must be eliminated. They were stricken out
and the bill thereby ruined
1t would have been perfectly feasible to have
passed the Cook bill, which practically re-enacted
the old mine tax law, and which satisfactory
all concerned. and under which the state has been
fully protected, and the mines have paid nearly 40
per cent OF the total assessment.
Instead the lobby was ordered to hold up all
mine legislation and it club to either
force through measures demanded by the admins
tration or else to stop legislation in the inter
ests of better business and economy.
Well, it worked. Legislation held up.
The mine tax bill was killed for the benefit of the
tax commission There is no land bill; there is
public welfare bill; there is prohibition bill;
there is economical expenditure BILL there is
appropriation bill. The affairs of the state all
but chaotic, there immediate hope of tax re-
duction, and it has cost the taxpayers s1,145 for
every working day of the legislature.
The administration did this We wonder if it
is proud of its accomplishment.
The legislature must re reassembled at an addi-
tional of approximately $1,000 per day to
citizenship already groaning under taxation.
The senate, which has performed it's duty, passed
the great measures it expected to pass and
special session that it during the just
ed. The loyal minority of the lower house. led by
men like John Christy of Greenlee. Flanagan of
Yuma Johns of Yavapai, Goodwin of Maricopa and