Bisbee daily review., 1919-02-08
Majority in State Senate Goes
Into Caucus and Splits on
Proposal to Handicap Gov
ernor; Big Fight Looms
If Solons Stand by Action.
Days of Clear Sailing for
Legislation in Upper House
Are Over; Not All Agreed

PHOENIX. Ariz-, Feb The demo-
cratic majority in the state senate,
which has had clear sailing for nearly
half of the session. enabling il TO put
through some constructive legislation
and just AT time when the OppOF-
tunity seemed brightest for making a
great record for accomplishment, has
drifted suddenly on the shoals of par
tisan politics. To date there has been
no division on party lines in the up
per house and the people of the state
had about reached the conclusion that
at last there had assembled at the
capitol a body OF men on whom they
could rely 10 put aside partisanship
and consider legislation solely on its
merits and effect upon the welfare of
this state The change came when the
democratic majority in the senate
went into eascus.
1t is now pretty well known that the
principal matter considered in the
caucus was the question OF whether
appointments TO the highway commits
sion and the board which will replace
the commission OF state institutions.
should be vested in the governor, who
happens 10 be a republican, or in
MINOR state officials who happen to be
democrats. OF course no such question
would arise. were the governor mem
Der OF the same party as the senate
majority. The appointments would
be vested in the governor in accord
ance with the usual custom. The only
element entering into the question is
one of political expediency.
Senators Not Agreed
| The democratic senators, who went
I into cascus, were not agreed on the
course TO be pursued. That much is
/ known A few wanted TO play politics
| from starr TO finish and clip the gov
ernOr's wings. Others. who had the
courage of their convictions. beiieVed
/ that the best thing TO do in the end
would be the right thing and that they
/ had better sacrifice a little tempo
/ rary advantage than take the chance
/ OF making a mess OF the situation and
allowing themselves TO be guided by
i their partisan prejudiceS.
The result was & compromise and
: like most compromises. il is not salts
factory TO either side. The caucus
determined to place the appointment
of the highway commission in the
hands OF the governor and minor state
officisls. who viii OutvOte the chief
executive and the appointment of =
citizen member OF the board OF con
troll in the hands of the governor. The
idea was that the governor would be
willing TO yield the one il given the
other. but those who. know Governor
Campbell are already saying that if
the senators are expecting him TO sac
rifice principal for little temporary
advantage. they have reckOned with,
out their host The governor stin has
the veto power and while the senate
majority is strong enough if they all
hang together TO override the sCver
nOr's veto. his record Will at least be
clear and the senators are not so sure
that all OF their number viii consider
themselves bound by the caseus.
Sig Fight Looms
The meeting had hardly convened
before reports that the democratic
senators were in caucus were in gen
eral circulation on the streets and il
the hotel Hobbies The reports caused
considerable disappointment as many
took Rhe view that the present senate
, for which high hopes had been helC
, out. was merely getting down TO th'
same basis as some OF its predeceS
sors. where the party whip was regu
i, lSrly cracked through the instrumen
OF the caucus and the minority Il
many cases ruled.
II the senators insist on taking tn
stand which is reported 10 have beel
, agreed upon in the cause. il mean
that the DAYS for clear sailing for iegis
Continued on Psse Fourl