Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-03-14

+ mund Lindauer. julius Rosch,
+ Herbert ID. Green and c. j. =
T. Kelly.
j. j. i. !. /. + 1. /. /. /. /. + + + + 4
The coming election of city officers
scheduled for April has begun to
agtate the public interest and to ex-
cite the local politicians to whispered
conferences and guarded interviews.
Bits Of crumpled paper with the
name, of possible candidates are be-
irg snrrrpiitiously passed from hand
to hand aud the words "slaie," "pro-
hibition." progressive 'moss-
backs" business" aud whisky"
give Ia the outsider no clue to hidden
meanings.
OLD BOARD WILL RUN
tine thing is clear: The present
members of the board of trustees
will again he candidates on a plat
form which they declare to be the
only one which will guarantee safe
AID sane business administration of
city affairs. While prohibition has
mol been made an issue this year it
is always II possible one and the
present board unhesitatingly declare
for regulated aud licensed saloons.
The main reason advanced is that the
present taxes of the city would
be loiairy inadequate for paying the
expenses Of the city administration.
MAXIMUM TAXATION
The present rate of taxation is now
the MAXIMUM of ten mills allowed
under the city's charter. This pro-
daces about $4,000. The fixed
charges or overhead" expenses are
about ;i,lOO, not counting funds ex-
pended for improvements. The rev.
enuc from the tax of six saloons il
now $1,000, and the present admin.
istraiion maintains that this sun
alone keeps the city from deficit
80 far as the redlight is concerned
the present administration has col
lecied nothing and has only recog
nlied II for the purposes of police
regulation. The members of the boart
do not defend the saloon on mora
grounds, but Individually many o
them believe in regulation as beinl
more effective than prohibition.
OPPOSITION TICKET
II Is understood, though no state
menl Tor publication has been made
that the prohibition element Of tn
cl'y will place an opposition ticke
IN the field Their fight if made, vii
Dc on moral more especially than o.
economic grounds, though leaders o
'hls faith do not hesitate to poin
on' many cities which exist and pros
per without the MD of saloon none,
! "e Issue was mos' emphatically de
ita'ed at the last election, but il
strength seems rather To have grow
'nan diminished and il is not at a
unlikely that it will again become th
eauSe OF contention.
THIRD TICKETf
mere seems to be a movement @
'oo' TO place third ticket in ii
running, though nothing definite hs
oe'' allowed To find its way to Il
"poilonal ear. A hustling westei
wy IKE Deming is bound to conta
progressive element that finds Ii
We satisfaction in the conservatis
" TUE present order Of things. Tn
"neh' demands more public in
'oVelnents in the way Of park
SIDEWALKS, street care and other m
'''us enterprises. II cares nothil
~, 'he so-called moral issues al
IONS only that revenue be provid
W improving the city. No doubt 4
!" ~" lew days will see the issues
' coming election more clear
,. %awn between the contending IA
;D, MUS 1t is hoped by many who
s',sS' ;Ss IN the matter is quite unseI
=" 'aa' the election will not be ma
I., ,se' on which to wreck the bark
w.aa lony that has done so much
va,Sa u carrying Deming to. the goal
s0'oen possibilities.