14th Arizona Territorial Legislature

The 14th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which convened in Prescott, Arizona. The session ran from January 10, 1887, till March 10, 1887.

The frugal nature of the session, compared to its predecessor, combined with an outbreak of mumps and measles resulted in the session being dubbed the "Measly Fourteenth".

Following the excesses of the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the U.S. Congress had passed the "Harrison Act" which placed limits on territorial debt. The act further prevented territorial legislatures from granting divorces or name changes. After the election of President Grover Cleveland, C. Meyer Zulick had replaced Frederick Augustus Tritle as Governor of Arizona Territory. As for events in the Apache Wars, Geronimo had surrendered on September 9, 1886, ending large scale hostilities within the territory.

The session began on January 10, 1887, and ran for 60 days. During the session a number of the legislature's members contracted mumps and measles. Of the 102 bills passed by the session, two were vetoed.

Governor Zulick sent his address to the legislature in writing on the first day of the session. He began by discussing the end of the Apache Wars, saying "The gratitude of the people of Arizona is due the President of the United States and the Secretary of the Interior for the removal of these Indians, who have for more than a quarter century stood a barrier to the progress of the Territory, a constant and ever present menace to it prosperity." He then went on to thank General Nelson A. Miles and his officers for their role in the capture and relocation of Geronimo. With the hostile Apaches dealt with, the governor believed it was finally possible to fully develop Arizona's wealth.

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