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

/, 9f Albuquerque nave no confluence
in the integrity Of their officials. or,
having confidence, lie about them for
political advantage. Al least, u II no
excuse for making the water COM
pany the subject OF abuse.
I sny now as ! said 10 the city
council. I have no desire 90 sell the
property OF the Water supply com-
pany. Neither do I want an extern
sion Of Us franchise. ~ has i've
years yet To- rum.
I realize that the Time viii come
when 1t will be necessary for me TO
ask the city to grant a new franchise
In order to continue business. for IL
cannot be carried on without a fran
chiso. When J make his request. u
viii be done publicly. Tho termina-
ton OF the franchise viii mean that
the city win have To grant u new
franchise 90 someone ur enter upon
the questionable proposition Of mu-
nicipal ownership. u Il should de
terminc upon the latter course I
should aak and expect the city to
pay as much for the compJny's prop
orty as IL IL reasonably worth for hat
purpose, such value Ia be determined
by impartial arhiters who havc sufi-
] NN'NA tNNfNN hNNNM AfNNf W flNNfNNf NfN'Nn
To- ascertain such value.
n the city should not wish munich
pal ownership. ! would expect tho
new franchise Ia be upon such terms
as are fair and just under conditions
then existing or likely to arise during
the term OF the franchise.
NOV that the voters may decline
Ca either grant a new franchise or TO
A rutNr the .a.u4n.nr VHn r.uaa.s.II. samHa.
Of It's property. for Albuquerque n
not without people who are already
loudly demanding that such course uo
taken. The city could not use the
Z Compuny's property without paying
for IT, hut u could confiscatc tbs
property By refusi TO either grant
a new franchise or 10 pay FOR and use
the company's properties, for lts
wells, reservoir. machinery and pipe
lines would he valuoless except fog
furnishing water, I am perfectly
willing "a await the results and allow
the people Of Albuquerque To- deter
mine that question by vote. No nu-
r]iv,i,al utilities would ever be put bon
were IL anticipated that the munici-
pality would confiscate the proper. -
at the end Of the franchise, FOR many
thousands or dollars Of new construc-
tiou have TO De put tn every year IA
keep mp with a city's growth. n g o.
the very last year g the franchise. u
would do the city no good and would
destroy q vast amount OF property,
which Is a calamity "a any communi-
~. still that course has its t~ocifer-
Gus advocates. should the city deter
mine on this course the slogan, Al
buqucruue believes IN confiscation 81
tho property of lie municipal utility
corporations wclid be a great cnti "a
panlon piece for the slogan, "Albu-
querque believes IN the ~reprdiation ~
it, contracts" with which TO atver-
tise Greater Albuquerque.
~ / have sought a new fraUch.so
or sale to the city. why h not tho
charge made openly NJ : desired "a
make either proposition ! should not
feel that | were guilty of any impro-
prlety In doing SO. d these
questions arise they can only be sell
tied by fair discussion and considcra-
ton. Nilification and abuse onlr
blind people as to their best inter
csts. Il might he of advantage go ,hc
city 10 have "a new franchise and
contract al this time. ~ certainly
would not be Co me. Municipal oNn-
efship would be- OF advantag' SEQ uo
one. but would hopelcsFly involve tho
city. already overburdened VITA debt
and taxation, to keep up the iutcros',
Does the character 81 the late ain
paign inspire confidence iu muni pal
ownership?
As the franchise and contract stil
have five yenrs to run. the lniy ISSUE
SO far as the Water supply cpmpau
is concerned is the performance ID
contract OBLIGATIONS. and abuse j. noi
one Of the things that the franchise
and contract provided for.
Respectfully,
A. H. McMILLES.
u President Water supply Compau,