Arizona republican., 1910-01-12
Full Steam Ahead!

he taken in order to secure the pro- posed new sewer system They think we must get a special act from con- gress before the city can vote for a bond issue The fact is, however. that no additional authority from congress is needed. All necessary authority all ready exists, by virtue of the act of congress approved March 4, 1898. This law reads:
 Be it enacted, etc, That the act of congress approved July thirtieth, 1886, entitled, An act to prohibit local or special laws in the territories of the United States. to limit territorial in debtedness, and for other purposes, IS hereby amended so as to permit, authorize, and legalize the issuance of bonds by chartered municipal corpor- ations having a bona fide population of not less than one thousand persons, as shown by the last school census taken before any election to be held under the provisions of this act, in any territory of the United States, for sanitary and health purposes, THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERS, waterworks, and the improvement of streets The limitations of such act of July 30, 1886, shall not apply to such municipal corporations: Pro- vided, That before any bonds shall be issued the mayor and common council of such municipal corporation shall cause to be published, in a news paper of general circulation published in such city or town, notice of the time and place or places of holding such election. Such notice shall be given at feast thirty days before such election. On the question of the issu- ance of said bonds no person shall be qualified to vote except he be in all respects a qualified elector and owner of real or personal property subject to taxation within the municipality. In case o-thirds of the qualified voters, as above described, shall vote
 f> L. AT bonds, then the mayor and common council shall issue the same, and not otherwise. Said bonds shall contain all necessary pr visions as to form, and such municipality shall provide a proper sinking fund for the redemp- ton of said bonds. Said bonds shall not bear rate of interest exceeding six per centum per annum, and the interest shall be paid semi annually, and none of said bonds shall be sold at less than their par value"
 It is plain, therefore, that the only thing needed, so far as the law is concerned, is the required call for bond election by the mayor and council.
 The city government has already proceeded so far as to secure plans for a sewer system. Whether these plans are adequate, we don't know. upon this question, we believe. These plans should be adopted or rejected at the earliest possible moment; and if they are rejected, satisfactory plans should be obtained without delay.
 For at least ten years the people of Phoenix have been talking of a mod ern sewer system, but there has been altogether too much "manana" about it. During this period the city has urebIed in population, and at last we are confronted with the imperative necessity of putting in the system at once
 In former years Phoenix was one Of the most healthy spots on the globe. Children's diseases were prac- ticaIly unknown. Diseases of adults, such as typhoid. were substantially unknown Now, diphtheria and scar let fever are almost constantly pres ent. The milder forms of these dis eases-tonsilitis and scarlatina-are frequent. Typhoid is becoming more and more common. In former years there were no mosquitoes here. Now they are pest in summer.
 And all this comes from our slavery to cesspools and surface toilets All the diseases mentioned are filth dis eases. strictly.