Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-07-18

The action of the city council last night in receiving
but not adopting the report of the special committee APP
pointed to confer with the water supply company was
eminently wise.
Alderman Ifeld's position is to be commended by the
community generally in not committing himself to propo-
sitions "A" and "B" in the report of the committee. 1t Is
apparent that these propositions were not properly before
the council for consideration at this time, nor does it APP
pear that the considerations involved in these two propo-
sitions have been fully considered by the committee. The
action of Alderman nfeld and the city council, therefore,
in merely receiving the report and not adopting 1t was
the only course to pursue under the circumstances.
Neither the city council nor the city is therefore COM
mitted to these two propositions.
The action of the council in providing for the employ
unent of a competent and disnterested expert to examine
the property of the Water Supply company and estimate
the value of it's property, including its franchise and con-
tract and other elements of .value, is also to be com
mended.
The only objection that could be possibly urged to
this action is the provision in the resolution that the SER
vices Of such expert shall be paid, one-half by the city
and the other half by the Water Supply company. 1t
would seem that it necessarily follows from this that the
Water Supply company will have a voice in the selection
OF the expert.
Under these circumstances it would be better to have
more than one expert, one to be selected by the city and
one by the Water Supply company. 1t would probably be
better for the city to employ its own expert and pay him
and the Water Supply company, If it sees fit, to employ
its expert. There is no serious objection, however, to
this course of procedure as the report is by no means
final
The Citizen suggests to the people of Albuquerque,
who are the parties vitality interested in this question,
and especially to the water consumers of Albuquerque,
that they take steps at once to appoint a citizens com
mittee to act for them and employ an expert at their own
expense, independently Of the expert employed at the in
stance of the city council and the Water Supply company
This will obviate any possible objection to the action
of the city council in the premises, providing for the pay
ment Of the expert in the manner above stated.
This is a matter of vital Importance to the city OF
Albuquerque and especially to the people who believe in
municipal ownership of the water works, and the water
consumers and tax payers can well afford to employ an
expert at their own expense in order that they may have
the fullest Information possible. They will be called upor
themselves to act and ratify any action of the city counci
on this subject in the end and the public should there
fore have the fullest information, and under the crcum
stances there can be no objection raised by the Waite
Supply company, and the city council of course would no
raise any, to the public having and receiving the fulles
information obtainable.
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP w
The war for municipal ownership is on in Denver
The Daily News publishes the following coupon:
Application for Membership.
hereby subscribe myself a member OF The Denve
Municipal Ownership league. having for it's object tn
ownership by Denver OF its public utilities, due regar
being had at all times for the best interests Of the people
l favor the acquisition Of present existing plants at a fal
compensation, and in case purchase at a fair price car
not be had, then that the city shall construct new plants
and / favor and demand that the city shall at once aC
quire the Lacombe street lighting plant under the term
of the franchise ordinance.
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