Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-04-26
ADJOURNED MEETING.
The Board Of Aldermen Ia Session al
City Hall Last Night.
TIE CITY PRINTING AWARDED.


vious meeting was dispensed with and
the council proceeded TO business.
The bit for s23l2l for wire for the
electric fire alarm system was referred to
the finance committee.
The printing of the city ordinances
aud notices wasawarded 70 thu Democrat
Publishing company at one cent a line.
The Metropolitan restaurant agreed TO
furnish meals to prisoners at ten cents
each, and Mrs. Louisa Rosi at I2 cents.
As Ieither OF the bidders furnished the
$40 earnest money required, the clerk
wei instructed to advertise for new
bids.
J. W.. Palmer was given the contract TO
furnish the city teams. his bid being S65
per month. while W. l.. Trimble 4 Co.'S.
bid was $50.
A petition for the enlargement Of the
Robinson park was referred to the street
committee.
Mayor Clancy then addressed the coun-
ell on the subject Of water, light, police
and revenues rs follows:
REVENUE.
While it has been possible to keep our
expenditures within our income during
the last year, yet we have been compelled
tOdeny ourselves many things In order to
accomplish this. II there are any sources
Of revenue which have been overlooked,
We shall o avail ourselves Of them. As
TO any general tax, increase is impracti-
cable. IL is quite possible, however, that
some things which might be required TO
pay license have not been 30 taxed. The
council should examine this question
carefully. IL has been suggested that
nickel-in.t he-alOtmachines ought 10 pay a
license, and also pawnbrokers, neither OF
which philanthroptc institutions now a
anything. Close attention should be
given ~ the license on gaming tables.
None should be allowed ~ run without
paying, and IA error into which some
men are inclined 10 fall should be cor
rected, and that IL the belief that but one
license IL required, even IL there are a
dozen different tables In the house, IL not
more than one game IL played at any one
time.
l recommend TO the council the con.
sideratiOn Of whether II Is not possible TO
increase the retail liquor license 30 as to
augment our income without injustice 10
anyone. so long ~ this liquor business
Is licensed, II may be considered a law
ful business, and we should DO slow 40 10
act a. toexclude any proper persons from
the business or to favor the weather.
dealers at the expense Of the poorer. The
business is, however, Of that character
that II should be compelled to pay, as
railroad men say. "all that the traffic will
bear" | am informed that there are over
thirty such establishments In Albuquer-
que. This clearly indicates, when we
consider the size OF the town, that the
business may be a profitable one The
license should certainly be increased 10
as high amount AZ may be possible
without driving any large proportion OF
these people out OF business. IL such an
increase be made IL should be borne in
mind that our schools are largely de-
pendent upon receipts from liquor IL
cences, and IL there il any chance OF
diminuti0n In number, some portion Of
the city licenses should go 10 the schools
10 make up Tor any possible loss.
Any substantial Increase In this tax
would probably have the effect OF tenn.
pOrarily closing some of the drinking
places, but, unless the added amount was
80 large rs 10 be prOhibitOry In character,
all or nearly all OF them would probably
be re. Opened In a few months.
In connection with the subject Of
revenue, attention should be called
10 the financial condition OF the city.
According 10 the report OF Our last
treasurer, the city has "A bonded indebted.
ness Of about $4,000. | am informed
that there are outstanding about t5S 600
OF interest. bearing warrants. A portion
OF these warrants must be illegal because
In excess OF the congressional Limitation
OF four per cent upon the assessed yaluA.
ton Of property In the city, but the re-
mainder evidences valid indebtedness.
IL II, however, under the provision OF
what is known IA the "Bateman Act
impossible for the city 10 pay any pOr-
tiOn OF this valid Indebtedness out OF
current revenues. There Ia no good rea-
son why 80 much OF those warrants as
are legal and valid should not be funded
under the Bateman act, and II would be
only an act OF justice 10 the holders that
their warrants, for which they "a now
get nothing, should be converted into
bonds which would at once be worth par.
| recommend that steps be taken toward
this end.
WATER.
A large part OF the yexatiOus questions
which often disturb cities, as To their
water supply, Is removed from our con
sideratiOn, as We have "A contract with a
water company for the supply OF water u
the city and 10 private consumers, which
has many years TO run. IL has been said
that II Is disputed as TO whether quite all
OF the n hundred fire MIGRANTS called
for by that contract are in actual use.
There Is no reason TO suppose that the
company does not desire 10 perform it,
contract fully, and II the full one hundred
are not In use, IL Is probably because the
council has not ordered them. The con.
tract shows that eighty four were In ex.
lstence when the agreement was made In
1894, and the other sixteen were TO be
placed AZ might be ordered by the cOun-
ell. The record Of the council should be
examined TO see II these were ever or
dered.
A subject worthy Of consideration
Is the extension OF water mains. As the
city grows, the residents OF districts not
provided with water should be supplied
at the earliest practical moment This IL
their right. They bear their share OF the
burdens OF municipal government and
should receive a. much OF its benefits a.
IL consistent with the ability OF the city.
II the one hundred hydrants are not all
placed, the city may require extension Of
mains without regard TO the income the
water company may derive theretrOm
but II the hundred are in use, extensions
can be ordered only when the gross in
come therefrOm. exclusive OF hydrant
rental, shall equal six per centum on the
cost. Certainly wherever such income
can be had, there must be such a number
OF people that they have a right 10 be
furnished with water for household use
and for protection against fire, II the
city can bear the added expense. II ID