Arizona republican., 1905-07-06
PHOENIX. ARIZONA. JULY 6, 1905
The Sensible Course to Pursue.

The Sensible Course to Pursue.
 The members os the city council ; should keep one fact firmly fixed in tlelr minds:
 - There is no longer any question of municipal waterwoTks before the Peo- ole of Phoenix. That question was settled forever when the election in fla vsr of the bonds was carried. Every ssne man in Phoenix knows that we are bound to have waterworks owned and operated by the city. Every loyal citizen, recognizing this fact, is de- sirous only that the city shall get the best value for its bonds; shall get the best water system that it is possible to obtain for the money available, and at the least possible cost, and with the least possible delay.
 Since, undoubtedly. both Mayor - Adams and the members of the coun- 5 ciI would heartily assent to this state rnent: since all of them are animated oy a desire to serve the public inter est and the public interest only. in the matter. there should be no great diff 1iculty in their getting together. In deed. it is the duty of Mayor Adams and his associates in the council to set together. The city cannot afford to lose the services of Ma-or Adams, nor can the council afford to make the situation so intolerable that the mayor cannot serve and retain his self respect.
 Tn point of fact, when the situation as analysed, there is no occasion for enatinued differences. The points Of difference are two in number:
 q. The mayor acting openly and yylth the approval of the council, nam ed five men to serve on a water com mission. MT. Adams was anxious to 2 ge; the work started immediately, and along practical lines. Pressed by ex- . acting duties in connection with the E territorial fair and the anti-joint- statehood league and at the same time ou the verge of serious illness, he thought to place the water question in the hands of five able men who would handle the public business. un- der the supervision Of the council, as they would handle their private af- fairs. A week or two later, the com mission having held no meeting Cbe- cause one of it's members was una voidabIy absent from town), the coun- cilmen unwisely permitted themselves to be influenced by men who did not understand the situation. by men who had. selfish purposes to serve, and by sorehead politicians who would glad ly sacrifice any public interest if they could discredit the mayor and the present city administration. So the councilmen. without consulting the mayor and without ascertaining whether in fact there was any reason whatever to suspect that the commis- sioners were unfit. decided to appoint a new commission. And another com mission was appointed.
 2 The members of the council, con trary to the judgment of the mayor, Insisted upon accepting at once a bid Df par for the issue of $3OO,oOO of bonds. The mayor believes. as do many other weIl-posted citizens. that : there is nothing to be gained by sell E ing the bonds at this time, in pur- : suance of an advertisement made long E ago; that, at least, there should be an I other call for bids. and postpone Inent of the sale until thirty or sixty days, in order to ascertain whether or ma better price than par can be }. realized. Five-per cent bonds of the 7 city of Phoenix should bring a sub HtantiaI premium. The couneilmen, on the other hand. seem to fear that no :. O.her opportunity will offer for a sale :. of she bonds.
 "> AS to the first point of difference . the personnel of the water commits stoa-that should present no difficult ., ties 60 the mayor and council. Every F act oE the commission must be ratified by Ehe council. and any member found derelict can be, and should be. imme-