Arizona republican., 1919-03-08
Now the Work of Salvage


 A week ago The Republican gave warning that good legislation the really most important sub- iect before the legislature, in imminent danger ot ship wreck The question now is whether anything can be salyagcd lt is useless to speak of the blame or the motives of men who have permitted things to be brought into this shape in any way to indulge m recrimination.
 Whatever time and energy may be remaining should be devoted agreement upon the best pos sibic bill that can be framed and passed to provide good roads for Arizona and employment to thou sands of men who need employment as they never needed it before.
 We think tho legislators could profitably and req sonabiy take the view of good roads legislation that they do with regard to all other legislation They have egislaed in the farmers of labor of merchants and of the industries and interests and they have tried far possible to translate into laws the reasonable wishes, which may call tho mandates, of these interests.
 There is in Arizona such a thing as the good roads interest tho legislature has also received the quest of the good roads interest through the recent good roads convention
 Not only Senate Bill Y in disregard of that request upon which the conference and all good roads were fully agreed. but it plainly in violation of the constitution. pointed out in the veto message of the governor which was amply supported by citations.
 The governors opinion is supported as we have ssccrtained by that of the careful eminent attorneys and little doubt that if that bill had been enacted into a law if any bill seeking by in- direct means to accomplish what was intended in that. should become a law. the only thoroughfares constructed under it would lead into the courts
 As amended by the house. the bill provided for Inc appointment of two members of the highway board who will become non-existent as soon as the legislature has finally adjourned-the president of the senate and the speaker of the house. Both these hcrs win to be and they could be called into being and kept in existence only by series of extra ordinary sessions of the legislature each of which they would be reelected as presiding officers
 Though both of them will remain members of the legislature until the expiration of the two years for which they were elected neither will be an officer of the legislature after next Thursday. Neither there fore could qualify in the official capacity designated the bill for membership of the state highway board
 We sincerely hope that understanding may be reached that will give 10 the effective good roads legislation All partisan differences should be sub- merged The subject which has been unfortunately side-tacked is something infinitely bigger than par tsanshp It is far less important that either party should control the good roads machinery. than that inc state should have good roads and that there bc thrown open a broad field of employment in this time of unemployment.
 outside the circle of politicians of both parties We do not think the people any more about the po- litical complexion of the highway commission than the good roads conference did We sure the rank and file Of republicans would object to a commits sion composed wholly dcmocrats or that democrats would not object to a commission composed wholly of republicans provided the commissioners were high class competent men who would give their best to fto f-f,r the politicians of either party There are in Arizona many men of both parties who would be proof against political influence in a matter which so concerns the whole people