The Winslow mail., 1923-01-12

that vacancies in the Legislature
should be filled by the Board of Sup
ervisors of the county where such
vacancy occurs.
| call this matter to your attention
because l believe that the law enact
ed by the Fifth Legislature is clearly
unconstitutional, and that this meth
cd of filling vacancies was never con-
templated by the Constitutional Con-
vention goes without saying.
l recommend that Sections 223 and
224 of the Revised Statutes Of Ariz-
ona, 1913, be re-enacted, and Chapter
36 of the Session Laws of 1921 be re-
pealed
NepOtism.
The practice of elected and appoint
ed officials of selecting members of
their immediate families for positions
of trust and profit under their ad-
ministration has been a source Of
great dissatisfaction and severe cri-
ticism. Much may be said on both
sides of the question. Yet in a de-
mocracy it is not conducive to pub
lie confidence that this condition
should become a general practice. 1
suggest the advisabiity of enacting a
law applicable to all State, county
and municipal officers, which will
provide that no elected or appointed
official shall appoint a member of
his immediate family to a position of
trust and profit under him.
Office Administration.
I recommend that the present law
which requires the Governor to coun-
tersign all State warrants, be amend
ed to provide that the Governor shall
designate one of his clerical staff to
countersign warrants. This is purely
a clerical detail, with an occasional
exception, and it means several hours
labor which can be employed on more
important matters.
Public Health.
No question is of greater import
ance to the people of Arizona than
that of public health. The smallpox,
influenza and other epidemics which
ravaged Arizona during recent years
indicate the necessity of an adequate
public health department.
The fact that many people come to
Arizona primarily because of its
healthful climate, adds to our pro-
blems. Children require that the milk
supply of the State be produced under
the greatest possible sanitary condi-
tions and that it possess the maximum
food value
Many people who come to Arizona
from other States and from Mexico
are afflicted with communicable di-
seases, and require prompt and care
full supervision.
The Department of Public Health
should be adequately financed and
the personnel of the department so
organized that it's maximum efficiency
may be obtained. I therefore recon-
mend for your consideration the re-
organization of the Department of
Public Health on a plan which will
be submitted to you in the form of
bills. Included in the plan is the
recommendation placing the inspec-
ton of dairies under the control of
the Superintendent of Public Health.
By this plan the Dairy Commits
sioner and his deputy will be elimi-
mated In their places two inspectors
will in the field as deputy State
Health Officers to inspect dairies.
The plan will further provide that
the State Veterinarian shall examine
cattle under the direction of the
State Superintendent of Public
Health.
l also recommend for your conside-
ration the advisability of placing the
county health officers under the dir
ection of the State Superintendent Of
Public Health, in order that a COM
prehensive plan may be put into ope-
ration for the improvement of sani-
tary conditions, and to effectively
cope with epidemics.
Education.
The very existence of Democratic
form of government depends upon
the intelligence of the citizens of the
State. Education is therefore the
most vital shbject with which gov
ernments have to deal. 1t is one of
the subjects to which this Legisla-
ture should devote it's earnest atten-
| ton.
Inc State OF Arizona has always
recognized and has striven to fulfill
/ its duty to give a free education to
every child within it's borders. Yet
statistics now available indicate that
a very serious condition exists in this
State with reference to our school
system.
Our educational problems are many
| q nd -,
the right approach in order to find
the proper solution.
! l think that the great majority of
our citizens are agreed on the fol-
lowing fundamental principles:
First-That our educational
system should be adequately
financed by the State.
Second-That the children in
| the rural districts are entitled to
just as good an education as the