Arizona republican., 1918-06-09
1T
 HANGING LAW UP
 T0 LEGISLATURE
Recent Terrible Murder in County Causes Inaugura- ton of Measure Which
 May Restore Death Clause

uder the spur of horror at the mur- der of a little boy near Mesa on Thurs day in the most rcvolting crcum- stances. another movement through Inc legislature for the restoration of capital punishment in Arizona was begun This affair, together with the story of an intercepted letter from pcryert convict in road camp near Clifton to another in the penitentiary, which was made known to some of the legislators. further impelled them to this step to lessen the number of hor- rible crimes which have followed the abolition of capital punishment. The letter is of such character that it cannot be set forth in type but it dis closes an almost unbelievable condi- ton. a depth of human degradation. a satisfaction. almost a delight in the punishment which has been imposed upon him.
 Present Punishment Not Enough
 lt is the belief of the legislators that the punishment now provided for the most fiendish of crimes is in no wise d deterrent; that while punish mcnt should not be inflicted in a spirit of revenge. the punishment for such crimes as well as the crime of deliberate murder should be such as forever 10 remove the criminal from society.
 A resolution proposing an amend ment to the constitution was intro duced into the house in the afternoon session by Mir. Flake of Navajo It provides for either life imprisonment or death as the penalty for murder. the punishment to be designated by the jury except in case of a plea of guilty when the court may determine tho form of punishment. For murder In thcsecond degree a minimum of two years imprisonment is fixed The resolution reserves 10 the legislative department of the state the right to restrict the power of pardon. parole, communication and reprieve. The reso- lution under a suspension of the rules was placed on the calendar of the com mittee of the whole house for tomor- row. The proceedings brought out no expression of opinion on the measure.
 Question Status of Act
 A somewhat similar resolution was sometime ago introduced into the sen- ate but was later abandoned on the ground that it was not obviously with in the call of the governor for the extraordinary session It was the be- lief of some of the senators that since such . resolution would not be finished legislation but would have to be sub mitted to the people next November, the constitution would not bar it. That view was rather taken by the attorney general but the senate be- lieved that the subject could be dealt with by an initiative petition which it was said was to be in circulation Some of the senators who then enter tained that view are now said to favor action by the legislature ai quicker, more certain and direct.
 The Senate's Service Star
 The principal event in the senate was farewell ceremony on the occa- sion of the departure of Senator Err nest Hall of Maricopa, who took his departure from the city last night Senator Hall has enlisted in the 27th Engineers He went to Wickcnburg tc arrange his affairs there and tomorrow will leave for Washington.
 The farewell proceedings were begur by Senator Winsor, who rose to question of personal privilege He be- gan by saying that the senator migh bc going to war to escape the peril.
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