The Coolidge examiner., 1941-05-02

Ine previous AlSH was 91'So.-
Gov. Bob Jones inherited the
s1.25 rate from a previous admin
istration. Notwithstanding the
rate was reduced to SO cents for
the subsequent year, Mr.. Osborn
throughout. the 1910 campaign
charged Governor Jones is re-
sponsible for the highest two-year
average tax rate in state history.
The average for the two years
of the Jones administration was
s1.O5. According to present esti'
mates, the lowest possible average
for the Osborn administration will
be $1.05. .. .. ....
Osbornites are hopeful Uncle
Sam will pay the state 81 100000
due in June for Arizona's share OF
excess power revenues from Boul'
der dam. This sum, which ex,
Governor Jones once planned TO
earmark for old-age pensions,
would be dumped into the general
fund to pare the property tax rate
1t appears the governor doesn't
intend to appoint citizens hospi'
tai board, as provided by HB .
to take the state hospital out OF
politics, until he loads the insti-
tutions staff with his own ap'
pointees. j., 80
The weeks roll on while the gov.
ernor takes no, steps toward nam
ing an enlarged. state fair com
mission where practically no po
litical patronage is involved:
Meanwhile, however, he deyot
ed many days of his time to per
sonaliy presiding over the custer
hearing against the State Indus
trial commission in his move to
seize. control of some 80 jobs. Phe
cases are now before the State
Supreme court.
In connection with these cases
it is enlightening to note that al
though charges ostensibly were
preferred by two private citizens
neither appeared as, a. witness
against the accused commission
ers. Also that the lengthy trans
script in the matter-costing some
$125O-will be paid for from the
governors contingent fund. This
means that the taxpayers must
foot the bill for the governors at
tack upon the commissioners.
The prediction is q made this
week that the governor will not
wait for court determination - OF
the Industrial commission case be
fore he opens fire on the State
Highway commission. i,
Strategy in this new offensive
has been decided upon, according
to usually informed sources, 1t is
said the governor will prefer
charges against but two commits
sioners-Chairman Jack Proctor
and Kemper Marley. Should he
be successful In removing this
pair, the governor will have
majority on the five-man commits
sion. He already has one ap-
pointee-Loren Cress of Flagstaff.
Another appointment will be avail
able next January when Commits
sioner Spencer Shattuck's term
expires. ..4asf ..Is-.
Reports emanating from the
highway department indicate the
governor will receive blow for
blow when he starts swinging at
the commissioners. Charges of po-
litical' activities will be ..countered,
it is said, by presentation of long
lists of names of cash contribu'
tors to the governors campaigns
of 1888 and 1910. .4 =.
These lists will reveal, this col
umn learns, names of numerous
Jones appointees who gave. up "A
percentage of their pay to the
Osborn campaign chest. Other
highly interesting revelations are
predicted.
When the supreme court an
nounced it would speed its ruling
in the industrial commission case
because "the public good was In
volved in the action, high state
official commented: "Employes
of the Industrial commission can
not be expected to do their best
work during this long period OF
uncertainty in connection with
their employment" ..t4... /;
The same situation applies to
the highway department, he point
ed out. Employees in that depart
ment also are worried about the
insecurity of their jobs as the gov
ernor continues his threats to
seize control of the. department.
AS consequence "the public
good" suffers.
At long last vigorous editorial