Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1906-01-27
WRITES ABOUT
WATER QUESTION
An Old-Tlmer Explains From
Bis Point Of View on
Water Subject.
SAYs PLANI COlI sls.000

The water question nov before tho
cts oahncll Is ne most important
matter directing o. vital interests oil
oar baiavad clir ihat has ever pre-
scented usoli for solution by ihe pes
be- u invoivsa TIE welfare aAd hap
nIness ~ every man. woman and eala
ln he community No d mol merely
Toe ne present hui VIII Influence the
whole future of TIE Duke city. itl
also touches the purse Of every BUST
ness man and householder aud iie
flrhf solution win diminish their
monthly crnrnro arcount For these
reasons. every feafure Of the problem
should Dc Given 90 the public, III
should receive the Carefu' aiid
fhourhtful consideration oi every one
The council meetings where ne sub
irci b. discussed should bs advertised
ana should DC attended ~ large NUM-
befr Of our citizens Every member
OF the council should he talked 90 hy
each citizen go that ihey mag Know
the sentiments OF their constituents.
Municipal Ownership.
TIE nrst question go he settled ia
the question OF municipal ownership.
is a desirable 90 have ihe city own
Ea nw wafcr workei There was a
time when lhoushtful men hcaltated
10 iuifusi tht people With the manaEe'
mcni Of purely Industrial enterprises.
EVon now many doubt The wisdom OF
municipal ownorfhlp foarlne that
what a called politics will pFeyent
success ny the use Of thla word
politics Is meant that unscrupu.oue
men vii get control and BY grafting
Cypress and cheat the people and
enrich themselves The position "a en-
attack upon a republican form Of gov
ernm9ui because q Assumes that the
people are Incapable % govorning
Themselves Many, however. contend
that ~ me people are 90 be mulched I'M
water rates n ~ better Tor them 20
40 q themselves. by their appointed
agents. than 10 have q done by The
employees Of corporation
The question 0f municipal owner
ship has. however been practically
settled by the experience Of cities ana
towns All over me United states and
In foreign countries. The result has
proved almost without exception that
the PEOPLE have been benefited BY
better service and lower rates. Ia the
staid and conservative city % iondon,
the city council now own and operate
street car lines. ferry boats gym
Easiumr. lodging holact. lhcaiers,
manual training schools. u builds and
rents houses hcei> ~ performing the
usual dutios of a city council They
have raised the price OF labor, eatab.
llshcd an oighihoHr day. reduced
prices and Rlyea opportunities 20 tht
people thcy represent 90 1--we better
and "a enjoy themselves, and strange
TO say. an these diverse enterprises
are actually paying investments.
Il 30 undoubtedly true that the great
majority OF the residents Of our clty
are warmly in favor Of municipal
'osncrahlp Tor they are Intelligent
progressive men and women aud keen
~ alive 10 the marvellous extension ol
the powers al government ln ihca'
later Gays and the advantages Of :
practical application 1l the principle
that government should be ~ the PEG
pie. by the people and for che people.
Kew 70 Accomplish n.
The next question 81 how best caI
The city OF Albuquerque become thl
owner and operator 90 water works
10 supply itN inhabitants with ,hn
absolutely Indispensable necessity o
life-watcfi
Obviously the city has the power q
issue bonds and pot in en- up.lodafl
efficient water plant. q must how
ever. be- considered thas the clty has
contract with the present water com
pany for hydFaDts, extending for four
teen years and Involving ana expepol
ture 81 about $4,000 year. IN add
ton 10 this the preaoSt wAtcT com
pany might attempt 10 run IN nppoal
tlon Come think that under these ciI
cumstEnces the city could not max
its oWa plant profitable. The profit
however. are 20 great that Withou
doubt the city could pay for the mex
fourteen years $1,000 q year and sue
lcegsfully meet any competition, ID
sides on a legal contest the contfec
OF the water company with the city
could a. any time be te- minated %
cause OF the failure Of the water CON
pany 20 meet its requirements TN
water company never has fully mni 4
obligations under the contract /
has. however. acrupulously collecie
the amounts Of money the city wa
obligated % pay There ie NOT, hoe
ever. on the pari oi the city council
nor on fto part Of the eFeat malorii
Of the people any dispositions 20 taxi
any advantage, whether under furf
81 law 0r otherwise. ~ DE water con
pany. The people. ln fact, would rafhe
patiently suffer under tho oppresaiY
rates that have heretofore preValle
than 40 any iniustIco OF even % pifc
the water company m posiilo
whore they would inevitably loa
money fnn present owners of ih
water company are prominent citizen
and an oniiehiened public seniimea
would seek io prevent amy Injury h'
ing done hy fho people at large 9
ans individual ln me community %
the other hand the time e rapidly az
pr0achlHg when no Individual VII
Think of doing the public an injury q
AN injustice merely for hia persona
ACKNOWLEDGMENT % may therefore b
assumed than the people oi AihuQue
que. unless forced thereto by grna
and pressing necessity viii not bun
separate water works and unerni
them la competition WITH the pfesen
water company. u muHi not, hos
ever for D moment ne doubted % ga
fact for an Instant lost sight Of tfh
the city of Albuquerque Is abundant
able 10 crush ont AVID destroy an
opposition that misht De presented D
tho present water company % munlc
bal ownership. otherwise q wonl
have To De- admitted that a part wa
greater than and could control an