Arizona republican., 1919-03-07
SHER|FFS WANT .FOUR-YEAR TERM T0 PROPOSE LAW
Every Sheriff In Arizona Is
 Represented At Meeting Held Yesterday At Hotel Adams To Discuss Needs

A bill providing for a four-year term of office for the sheriff will be intro- duced in the legislature today, the bill having been drafted at a meeting Of sheriffs or their representatives from the l4 counties of the state, which was held in this city yesterday.
 The proposed amendment provides not only that the sheriff shall serve four years, but makes the provision that the officials now in office continue their term over that period.
 It is understood that the bill will be introduced simultaneously in the sen ate and the house and that the judi ciary committee in both houses will stand behind the proposed legislation
 Leading members of the legislative body, 1t is understood, are in favor ol the measure on the ground of eff ciency in government" They are of the opinion that it takes fully a year for d sheriff to learn the tricks of the trade and that by the time he has qualified he must begin electioneering for anoth- CT term or step aside for a new man unfamiliar with the duties of the of lice. Furthermore, they declare that tht sheriff works with the judge and the clerk of the court, both of whom are elected for a fOur-year term.
 Unite on One Measure
 While the meeting was called to per feet more thorough co-operation among the sheriffs of the state and to discuss many matters of vital inter est to the states welfare which could only be brought about by legislation | it was agreed to concentrate on the one amendment the sheriffs firm of the conviction that with but few days re- maining it would be practically impos- sible to accomplish more
 The four-year term was proposed by [ Sheriff Eugene Shute of Gila county | shortly after the meeting was called to order in the blue room of the Adams hotel yesterday morning. The matter was more fully gone into last evening when Senator Elliott of Greenlee coun ] ty was asked to be present at the ses- sion and aid in the passage of the bill Senator Elliot said he was in thorougn sympathy with the bill which would unquestionably tend toward efficiency in office. While Senator Elliot was in accord with the proposed amendmen, to paragraph 250s, Chapter f. Title x Revised Statutes, 1913 he declared ht could not speak for the legislature which was as temperamental as an actress.
 Harder For Auto Thieves The meeting was presided over by Sheriff William Mahoney of MohavC county, who was named as president ot the newly organized association whict will meet twice a year. Sheriff Shute was elected secretary.
 One of the matters that created live ly discussion had to do with catchin' auto thieves and q system of countv tags by way of identification was SUE gested. Better police protection wa also advocated and d general discussion relative to experimenting criminals fea tured the gathering.
 Practically every sheriff present wa in favor of making it a felony if a boot legger carried a weapon. The officer held that practically every bootlegge was armed from a 30,3S Colts to a Leu ger and that they were ready to shoo if necessary. The sheriffs who do no already belong to the Internationa Sheriffs and Police Officers Associ ations Code signified their intention 0 becoming a member so that they migh use the code when deemed advisable.
 A resolution which had the endorse ment of the association was read at tn close of the meeting.
 Resolved, That we. the sheriffs of tn state of Arizona demand the power { appoint all officers who work out c the sheriffs office as deputies as W are responsible under our bond, for tn actions of all appointees, to be ratifie by the board of supervisors.
 ! Many Present
 Among the officers present wei
 Sheriff Mahoney of Mohaye county
 Sheriff Harp of Navajo county; Sher if Greenleaf of Yuma county, Sheri1
 Harrington of Coconino county, Sheri
 Hall of Pinal county. Sheriff Ware o Davis of Yavapai county. Sheriff Mont
 gomery of Maricopa county, Under
 sheriff Bowers of Maricopa count
 Sheriff Arthur Slaughter of Greenler
 norn'v T'ndorsheriff Srll'noer of Pin
 oorntv SNer'ff Jomes M~OOnold of C
 chise county, Sheriff Fam'lton
 Apache county and Sheriff Shute | Gna county.