El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-11

sary to enable our people by their
! own labor to do for themselves, with
/ out unnecessary handicap, what nature
/ does for the farmer in sections more
I abundantly blessed with rain. Should
/ go to the Legislature I shall go with
! out tie or obligation to any interest
/ whatsoever except the welfare of the
| public.
Any voter desiring to know my views
concerning the regulation of public
service corporations is requested to
read the provisions of the Ell Paso City
Charter referred to hereafter. That
| act was almost wholly written by me
when 1 was City Attorney Of this City
in 1907. 1t received the enthusiasts
! endorsement of the people OF this City
and of the Ell Paso Times and the FL
PasO Herald at the time of its adOp-
ton. 1t received the outspoken COM
mendatiOn of governor Campbell, who
was then and is now reputed to be a
champion of the public rights in that
cause.
The FL Paso City Charter embod-
led my matured convictions on the sub
Ject at that time and it does so now
and upon its provisions I willingly
rest It was, I believe, the third Com
mission Charter in Texas and its pro-
visions have been generously copied in
subsequent charters throughout this
States and I am informed in other
states. Reference is made to a few of
the then new or unusual provisions Of
the Charter.
Section % requires the selection of
a banking depository of City funds
by the taking Of competitive bids, thus
securing to the City the highest rate
of interest Obtainable on all city de-
posts This provision alone has earned
many thousands of dollars for the City.
And what is perhaps more important,
this law makes impossible campaign
contributions from banks in exchange
for the promise of City deposits.
Section 80 defines the powers Of a
PUBLIC Meter Inspector, makes his de-
cision as TO the correctness of the me-
ter or the service rendered by it prirna
facie conclusive and forbids public ser
vice corporations to discontinue ser
vice TO the citizen, contrary to the de-
cisiOn Of the Inspector
Sections So and IS provide that the
city Council may, upon its own mo-
ton submit any ordinance carrying
with II grant of a franchise, to
referendum vote of the taxpayers, but
what is more important it cOmpels the
submission of all franchises to the
vote Of the advalorem taxpayers, if as
many as 400 voters request its sub
mission It prevents the considera-
ton Of any franchise in the City Coun-
ell until it has been published in full
IN newspaper for the information Of
the public and in making provision
for the City to acquire in the future
any utility plant it is provided that
no charge shall be made or any con-
sideration paid for the franchise by
the city when taking over the plant.
Section 40 imposes penalty bv Way
Of fine upon any public service cor /
poraton for the doing of any act or
the refusal to do any act required Of :
II, contrary to law or the order of the
City Council.
Section II authorizes the City Coun- !
Gil to fix the rates which may be /
charged by any corporation for gas, !
water, light, power, telephone service, /
street car fares or any other convent /
enee or commodity furnished to the /
public.
Section so compelled the railroads
passing through the City to construct 1
at their own expense a viaduct over I
their tracks and this provision, which i
! believe was then entirely new has /
furnished the example and basis for /
such action here and in other cities 4
throughout the State since that time. /
Section 81 forever makes impossible
the establishment Of a street railway
monopoly in FL Paso, and the idea,
first, I believe, embodied in that act
is now made the basis of such Iegis-
iatiOn in this State.
It has been charged that I purpose |
if elected to introduce legislation to
liSfranchiSe the Mexican voter That /
charge is not true. If elected I shall |
never lend my vote or my voice to any
legislation discriminating against any
citizen Of this State because of his
nationality, race or religion.
1t may be that other questions have
arisen which have not come to my
notice. I believe in the right of each
voter to know the views of a candi-
date for the Legislature upon any
public question and I shall cheerfully !
answer any question which is cour-
eously asked me.
In conclusion I hesitate to refer to |
he suggestion that it has been asked
Why I should be a candidate for what
s termed such an unimpOrtant Of
ice" This query seems to me to be
based upon a misconception of the
luties Of the office Surely the task
# making laws for four millions of
people is never a small task unless
he legislator makes it so. Our 10
original States had fewer people than
Texas has today when the Continent
] Congress met in Philadelphia
Under no aspect has Texas ever
seemed "unimportant" to me. I have |
10 other public ambition but to be !
aithful in her service. I desire no
ther reward than the approval of her
citizenship.
Richard F. Burgess.
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