The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-02-14

information TO be obtained from III
books OF the Water supply CONF
pany, be OF any practical value In de-
termininE the course 81 the city as
To the purchase OF the plant or the
extension % the franchise.
Resolved. Fu~ther. that Il In the
sense OF this committee that the city
council OF Albuquerque should re-
s%pectfully advise the Water Supply
company that unless given a prompt
opportunity To make an examination
of the hooks of said under
such reasonable restrictions as the
company may deem necessary to it's
protection. no proposition for the
purchase OF lts plant or the extern
sion 81 its franchise viii be consld-
cred by The council.
Resolved, That a copy Of these
resolutions be presented by the
chairman Of this meeting To the
mayor Of the city with "A request that
the same he laid before the council
for such action az may be deemed
necessary.
Lacks Like n Deadlock.
lnasmuch as the third paragraph
OF the resolutions serves notice on
the water company that unless it
permits an examination of It's books,
all negotiations for purchase Of It's
property are off. and since the water
company has definitely refused to
permit such AN examination, and has
IN previous communications to the
council, indicated hat Il sought ne
negotiations, but would be wiling to
consider propositions from the coun-
ell. and in view OF d further fact
that the council virtually has bound
itself TO act solely upon the advice
and recommendation OF the special
commission. II would appear that the
situation has nov reached something
very much like a deaciOck and that
all bets are off. u would seem also.
and such was the feeling Of a mum
her OF mcmbers of the commission
last night. ihst the speciaI commits
sion for the present at least has done
about everything Il can which In the
final analysis amounts To nothing
and that for the time being It's USE
fulness IL ended.
what are we here for?" was the
question persistentiy asked by sew
eral members OF the commission
when first appointed, and the ques-
ton seems To have been answered.
The action Of The COMMITTEES last
night followed more than an hour OF
vigorous debate In which AIR Burk-
hart. Mr.. Craig and MIR. Metcalf
waged war for municipal ownership
right now. while Mr.. Field and Col.
n. l.. stern opposed that policy. Mr..
Field was opposed to receiving the
water company's plant as a gift an
der existing conditions. 50 firm was
his conviction against the policy of
municipal ownership for Albuquer-
que under existing conditions. MIR.
Craig submitted a report on a refer
endum he had been taking among
his acquaintances an the streets.
showing "a large majority Of those he
had asked in favor OF municipal
ownership. bat also IN favor Of build
Ing a new plant. Hts figures were;
for n new plant. 1917; Tor buying the
old plant. 20. for an extension Of
franchise, o.
Mr. Mctcalf protested that govern
ment statistics were az hand to prove
the success 81 municipal ownership.
MIR. Mcl.auRhiln proposed a special
committee 20 ascertain what rates
the water company would be willing
10 agree Ca in the event u a new
franchise, but the motion failed Of
n second
The commission having, In effect,