Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-07-18
OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSITIONS "An AND a.

The Citizen is compelled to take issue on that part
of the report of the special committee, DESIGNATED "A
and "B". The first proposition, "a" is that the establish
ment of the municipal water system in competition with
the Water Supply company would be a ruinous enter
prise for the city. and neither advisable nor practicable.
This conclusion is not justified by the premises laid down
in the report. In fact the report states no premises
whatever upon which to base il. 1t is not shown why the
city could not erect a water plant and supply its citizens
with water, at a profit, at the same time paying TO the
Water Supply company every dollar it IS entitled to re-
ceive under its contract The report does not show why
this course, If no reasonable terms can be made with the
Water Supply company, would be "a ruinous enterprise
for the city, and neither advisable nor practicable"
The report says: 1--WE therefore conclude that the es-
Establishment of a municipal water system, in competition
with the Water Supply company, would be a ruinous en-
terprise for the city, and neither advisable nor practlc
able"
This declaration of the committee is plainly not in
harmony with the sentiment of the community and Will
not commend itself to the voters who are in favor of the
city's owning its water plant. II It had been ADOPTED Dg
the city council any further negotiations for the purchase
OF the Water Supply companys plant might as Wen nave
been abandoned. This declaration is equivalent to saying
to the Water Supply company, 1--WE will not use the
power the city has to erect its own plant. You can dc-
tate your own terms. If the city does not accept them
well and good,-the people of Albuqu erQue will have to
submit for fourteen years longer to the present eXoroitant
rates of the Water Supply company"
This is not the situation that confronts the people
OF the city council.
The second proposition "B' is as follows: And even
IL such an enterprise could be made a success. it would
in effect be a Reputation by the city of its contract, ana
for that reason is not to be considered" This proposition
is utterly without any foundation. 1t has never been
suggested that the city should or could refuse to pay a
single dollar its contract calls for. There is nothing In
the contract with the Water Supply company which re-
uuires the city, under any circumstances, to order an!
extensions of mains or take additional fire MIGRANTS. IL
unquestionabiy has the power to grant a franchise TO
another company, or erect its own plant and furnish It's
own water and FIRE hydrants in addition to what 1t now
has from the Water Supply company. The Cltlzen mas
shown this to the people many times. 1t will do so again
All the city is bound to do is to comply with the
terms of its contract and pay their rental for fire ny
drants it now has, and receive the water called for under
the contract, as a part Of the consideration for the rental
of these hydrants. The letter of its bond is all the water
Supply company can insist upon. This is not repud!a-
ton. The people need not fear any threatened stigma
of reputation. The city can not repudiate its legal OBJ
legations if it would, and no citizen of Albuquerque would
have it do so If it could. 1t would be strange If the city
could grant a franchise to another company, to lay pipes
in the streets and furnish water to the public, and yet
be unable to do so itself. Such is not the legal status.
The Citizen has maintained that the city has the legal
right to acquire or erect, and maintain its own water
works for the benefit of its people, and that it should do
so. at the earliest opportunity, and it will continue to SO
maintain both from a legal and moral standpoint.
The people are again to be. congratulated upon the
action of the council in declining to submit itself in adj
vance of its negotiations with the Water Supply com
pany as to what 1t can or will do in the premises.