Arizona republican., 1916-07-30

ly a carrier, and has no ownership
of the commodity it carries, and can
charge only for its service as car (
rier. and that the irrigator who first
puts the water to beneficial use has
the prior right thereto as against
other claimants This decision, at
one blow, struck the shackles which
had been fastened upon western sett-
lers by numerous canal companies,
but many years had to pass before
other courts fell into line. Now, the
Kibbey doctrine prevails wherever
there is irrigation.
Taking up the practice of law at
Phoenix following his retirement from
the bench. Judge Kibbey's party nat
urally demanded and received his ser
vices in politics He was city at
torney of Phoenix. and assistant dis
trict attorney of Maricopa county. In
several campaigns he was chairman
Of the state committee. and in every
campaign has been on the stump for
mis- party.
In 1902 he was elected to the upper
house OF the territorial legislature.
Although in the minority, he was the
leader of a minority which made it.
SELF felt. BY fine tactics he got
through the council a bill which had
already passed the house, giving the
vote to women-a bill which the gov
ernnr vetoed The veto was sustained
nv the house, which was overWhelm-
ngiy democratic.
He was chairman of the republican
territorial committee in the campaign
# 1"At 1t was as secretary of that
committee that | became well ac-
GAINED WIN him. and il was his
| handling of the details of that cam
I M ion Nrh M
| The fact that Judge Kibbey is one %
! the most upright men | have ever
| 'Srowr
In the fall of 1904 he was appointed
attorney general Of the territory, and
! N February. 1905. President Roose-
| Welt appointed him governor of the
| territory. He held the office more
than four years or until April 1909,
| when he was succeeded by Judge
| sloan
Judge Kibbev's administration as
governor is Of course. remembered
| with pride by every Arizona citize
| f today WHO was a resident here al
that time. II is speaking moderately
TO say that he took rank with the
-rrat governors Of the union. Find
ing chaotic and uneven and unfair
he laws relating 10 assessments and
taxation, and unable to get assist
lnre from the legislature. but ably
'ssiSted hv a most oa~a hle attorneN
general-Flias S Clark - GoVerno
Kibbev boldly took The huh nv th'
horns and proceeded to obtain in tho
'ourts the relief for the people whict
the legislature had refused HI
course was conservative and right
He wor. and established new epocl
in taxation reform.
Governor Kibbey was. Of course, o
familiar ground in insisting that tn
burdens Of taxation should be equal
distributed. But he also carried int
practice the old fashioned notion tina
only a sufficient amount Of none,
should be collected from the people q
meet The actual needs Of the govern
ment. economically administered
Under his administration the publ
money was expended as carefully a
the prudent business man makes hi
disbursements. II is worth recalling
hat the extensive business IF tn
territory was handled. through tn
various departments. with the assist
ance of only nine clerks in all tn
capitol building-and vet efficiency .
government was maintained through
out his administration at high waite
mark The tax rate was steadily re
duced. while more than half a millio
dollars was expended for necessar
9uhlic buildings.
Under his administration, the laN
was vigorously enforced and withou
'avoritism. For example. in 1907 Their
| vas strike of the miners in tn
amp to Bisbee. Minor disorders. in
eident to picketing. etc. We're growin
md the whole community was appre
hensive Of serious trouble. The gov
| ernor made public announcements G
| his policy-that the strikers would h
protected in their right to strike an
N their peaceahle efforts to get tn
| workers TO Join them hut on the othe
hand, the workers likewise would b
: protected from annoyance and vic
lence And the leaders of the stril,
vere advised that they PERSONAL
J would he held responsible for violenr
/ Committed hv their followers. TIL
trlSe thereafter went peacefully {
$ its end
. without ostentation Governor Xii
r Hev inauguratcd practical prison r.
+ orms for which there has been lou
= | acclaim of another governor. Cover
D ,or kidney abolished solitary confine
S ment, and abolished striped clothir
t kept as a mark of punishment, an
I Ne established the principle of givin
% each prisoner an extra day off h
e | sentence for each daV or work
/ construction of buildings and road
/ This system now prevails in sever
t states
L The Florence prison, pronounced |
= MANY as one of the most modern al
healthful in the world was construr
u after Governor Kibbey's own d.
b sign.
t During considerable part of h
= administration Governor Kibbey w;
S in a spirited controversy with Pre-
r ident Roosevelt over the question
e Joint statehood for Arizona and Ne
2. Mexico (without however. impairii
e the warm friendship which exist
y between the two menu As franz
II. and pressed upon congress the b
It rendered Arizona helpless-the heaV
n or vote of New Mexico was suffice
q | n assure = M io~ity for the measu
= when it should be submitted to {
s Two territories. The governor pr
IS pared powerful brief in favor of +
proposal that the bill should ha
the approval of each territory. votil