The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-04-08

10 AM' lfNiif " HhlNAlhfi lNft
II seems To me time that the own
or OF the Water supply company
should have a say. When | took
chnree Of the cumuauy's affairs ! be-
licVcd tina thc water company ana
its owners should in mo- way mcddle
in municipal politics. and ! have ud-
hcrod steadily to- that policy. Not
Withstanding that fact, at each sue
! cccding election the %ooutcnding fac
tons have fought ticiously over the
water company, "a pretended issue
that each side knew had no founda-
ton iu fact. Perhaps / have been
wrong .n maintaining silence. ~ any
I rate. BOO view of tho yilluinoua city
| campaign just closed, wish TO state
my position on the subject.
The contract and franchise between
tho city and the Water supply COM
pauy was entered into twenty years
ago. after very full discussion In the
city council and approval 10y vote OF
the people. in the manner provided
by law. Mr.. A. \. Grant vas then
the principal owner or the company.
The city council supposedly acted FOR
the best Interests OF the city. Al any
I lHNNs INC AWNNfA fN NNN| NNN NWNNN W.
proved the contract and franchise la
the manner required hy law. $50 vot-
ing Tor and 1875 against. For my OWL
part I think Mr.. Grant was a great
hencfuctor TO the city Of Albuquerque,
and hat he and his municipal utility
companies contributed much more "a
the upbuildiug OF A~lhuqucrquc than
Albuquerque ever contributed Ca
them. However thai may be, ! had
nothing whatever TO do with the maxi
ing or granting OF the franchise and
contract
When I first becume Interested IN
the Water supply company the con
tract and franchise had been In force
Tor over fifteen years. Al hat time
FIVE OF ~ made the purchase from
the Grant estate. IN October 1910
&c had dwindled down TO two Of as
and / took ~ the management und
later became the sole owner.
! make this statement so IL may Dc
clear that ! am speaking for myself
and that I know whereof I speak
The ouly request that J have made al
tho city Of Albuquerque relative {,
this subject Is thnt the city OF Anu
qucrquc should perform is part oi
the contract. which u entered int,
only after full dciihcration and ap'
prevail by vote OF lbs qualified voters
in the n provided by law Now
II there Is any issue affecting the Wa.
ter supply company, the Performance
OF this cotract which has five year.
10 run il the issue. II this il not AZ
issue. why draw the Water compan,
INFO zach campaign FOR Vliialnou.
abuse by the ~cunteuding factions
There have been various suggestion
Of questions Affecting the water sup.
: ply to be snbmltted TO the people
WHY not submit this question: "Shal
Albuquerque %rcpudiate her contrnc'
solomuly entered into with the Water
Supply company
There Is q campaign on for advcr.
Using Albuquerque. IL would be .
fine heading for her advertising ~.
crature 90 say. "a majority Of th'
people OF Albuquerque believe IN re-
pudiating her contracts" And then
to be- sure that there Is no uncertainty
as To- the advantages OF Albuquerque
90 the homcsrckcr. add the slogan,
used ina our late municipal campaigT
and say. This is what We 10 Co them
when We get them here''
Anyone who cares 10 know tho
truth knows that the Water supply
COMPANY has asked absolutely moth.
ing OF the cits except as above stated
Tho question OF purchase OF tho prop
critics % tho Water supply COMPANY
was urged hy your IS officials. Ms
answer was made In writing and was
published in both daily papers. =,
there Is No excuse for misunderstanding
iue Of my position on the question
Ny position iu The matter has q
been referred Co or questioned In the
city campaign but charges ana coun'
tor-chargen as 90 the dishonesty oi
your city officials nave been made.
Al ! can Say as 10 that Is that b
b. Unfortunate indeed 10 the people