The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-05-29

we q" "|"WN""N|N"
yue are Fcpuisd to have
evolved a plan 50 keep aslla-
tion OF the w.-.er works question
aiase Tor IN Indefinite period. while
Resisting any definite action there
on b. the city council which Will r.
init the people 70 settle Il. The OBJ
jsct 81 this scheme IL 70 bring the
waser problem into the next city
campaign. 30 make Il an lssue in that
eampaiea and 70 make Il Of material
use 10 fursheflne the political inter-
esls Of a number Of men who pro-
pose q USE X 10 ride into office.
such . scheme. 81 successful might
hr o. considerable use q the men
who promote a and whose political
ends are At stake. For the city Of
Albuquerque. for its peace and its fu-
sure 1. Il about the worst thing that
could happen. Settlement Of ths
water works question 10 purely q
business proposition. II Il IL to be
settled wisely Il l. imperative that
passions and prejudice and political
ends be kept out Of H. The use OF
the water question az . main issue
IN the next city campaign might
easily mean that We would not only
set a bad settlement OF the PROPOSE
tlon, but a bad set of ofncers alonE
with u. The present time. when an
election - stiIl many months away
and when the p~oliticai ambitions Of
no man can b. materially helped on
hurt is the ideal time for a settle
meni Of this question. a wise deter
minntion OF which hsn much TO dc
with the immediate and the future
prosperity Of Albuquerque.
There was a lot Of hard, common
sense IN n assertion Of an Aibu-
qnerque lawyer at the council meet
ing Thursday night lie said that
what The people Of Albuquerque want
l. cheaper water and a fair franchise,
He saId that Il should be and Is COM
parativciy easy 20 ascertain the cost
Of producing and deliveries water
here. That cost having been deter
mined. he believed II should os
settled Al onSe whether or not this
city could make = reasonable profit
on lss investment in undertaking mu'
nicipal ownership. n u eau be
shown that the city can operate tbs
plant NJ a reasonable profile he be-
lieved the people might vote 20 IN
dersako municipal ownership. II not
he thought a franchise Of the right
kind should be- granted to a private
concern.
This is simply common sense
Grievances we have against the wa
ter company are not going to help us
TO settle this proposition. The coun'
ol can occupy IL time from now
rnti the crack VI doom in watchins
irritated individuals demonstrate
tricky water meters. a. was done
Thursday night. without ever advanc-
ing one step toward doing someihine
for the people OF Albuquerque.
We have a franchise now which =
,xtortionate, We have an opportu-
Ety 10 get eut from under hat ran
Mise. We nave AN opportunity u
try municipal ownership n we want
%. and II We do not wan u, to get
a reasonable rate FOR water.
The council has gathered around
il a group Of people actively inter
cstod Ia the water question. whose
faces are now familiar at the water
hearing. The views OF these semitic.
men have been thoroughly aired
what the people want now Is an OBJ
nortunity "a express their views, not
IN extonded conversation or theoret-
irul argument. ar amusing monkey
shines with d water meter, but wlsh
tusinesslike votes.