El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-06

two definite and final solutions to this
perplexing problem
! Your first solution Is to raise the
| water rates to the consumers, TO an
amount sufficient to enable the Inter
national Water company to operate,
| maintain~and extend its plant. in ac-
cCrdance with the report of ex-governor
! Sayers; the other solution is municipal
| ownership on the basis OF the report Of
the second W&trr COMMISSION, and as
agreed TO by the water company.
Being but two solutions TO the QueS-
ton / deem it of the utmost import
ance to submit both of these questions
to the Qualified voters of this city at
one and the same election, thereby in
forming every voter of the conditions as
they actually exist and giving him the
right and privilege of exercising his
choice between the two propositions,
we as the governing body of the city
assuring the voters that their direc-
ton and choice will govern Us In our
final action.
All Voters TO Vote.
AT this election l would suggest that
all qualified voters be given an OPP
portunity TO express their preference.
In the event that municipal ownership
carries. then We must go to the people
again and ask for bond issue, to en-
able us to carry out their will. The
right of franchise in the (second) cleo
ton can only be exercised by ad va
loren taxpayers. who have qualified az
voters If then the adyalorem tax
payers shuld refuse to vote the bonds
and place In our hands the instrument
necessary to carry out their instruc-
ton, we would have no other alterna-
tive but to grant the raise In rates
recommended by ex-governor Sayers; but
If on the other hand the voters should
prefer the raise in rates, and vote down
the municipal ownership proposition,
there would be no further impeachment
to our carrying out their Instructions
All Citizens Concerned.
This matter Is considerably compli.
Gated by the injection Of general voters
and advalorem voters Municipal own
ership concerns only the taxpayers,
but q raise in rates affects the entire
citizenship and 1 believe that all class
es should be given an opportunity to
express their views. In my opinion
such a submission would give you a
definite idea as TO the wishes Of the
people. and would clearly indicate to
you what your duties in the premises
are.
Therefore, I have prepared a resolu-
ton in conformity herewith and pre-
ii Is adopted. I would suggest that the
election be held within the next seven
days, that the polling places be desig-
mated and that you at once appoint
judges to preside
City's Only Course.
We did not create the situation; We
deplore it, have long and Intellectually
sought a more favorable solution, but
none the less, We are confronted with
a condition that must be met and not
by q theory which we may discuss in
our idle moments. The International
Water company is here with nearly
million dollars of invested capital and
no other means of providing water can
be procured for years to come, and
not then, except at an almost equal,
if not greater expenditure Of public
money, and by destroying a huge
amount of private capital which has
been honestly If sometimes mistakenly
expended in upbuilding FL Paso. Our
public interest, our well founded boast
that Ell Paso is no barren field for the
investment of money and energy IN ev-
cry form of enterprise. requires US to
adopt one or the other of these two
propositions The man who votes
against both. deals deadly blow to the
prosperity of the city, none the less
fatal because possibly unconscious
Respectfully submitted.
". +. Robinson, Mayor.