Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-13

took office. He suggested an ordi-
nance to regulate automobile traffic.
We received the suggestion with en-
thusiasm and urged him To bring IN
his ordinance. assuring him that 1t
would be passed. That was months
ago, The ordinance has never been
presented. The only other actien the
mayor initiated was to call special
meeting OF the council to propose
granting a permission to private par
ties to erect on street corners adver-
tising signs We consented TO mat
action and have learned since that
when public criticism occurred the
mayor sought To saddle the entire re-
Isponsibility upon the undersigned
Blame Mayor Solely.
Your consideration ia invited TO a
private business in which the direct
ing head declines to consult with amy
of the heads of departments or
branches. such a condition continue
ed for any period of time would re-
suit IN precisely the situation which
has come about in our city govern
ment, This situation, we assert, has
come about solely through the attl-
tude Of mfrendliness distrust and
antagonisnl towards us which has
been exhibited throughout by Mayor
Boatrght.
1t has been charged by the mayor
and by the newspapers that the coun-
ell has done nothing. 1t may be
stated that it is difficult in our form
of government to do anything with
out the active Co-operation of the
mayor. This council. ON its own in
itiative, completed construction OF
the city nall This was done by the
council and certain private citizens,
! who secured the necessary signatures
to notes, sufficient TO guarantee pay
mcnt of the cost: notes which the
undersigned signed, thus plcdgng
their individual credit.
The mayor and the newspapers have
criticised us because We declined t.
appropriate money for payment for q
park site far out on the mesa, and be-
cause we declined to appropriate $500
for the state fair. The city did not
have the money for either of these
purposes. and as to the fair appro-
priation the council had absolutely nc
legal right to make such an appro-
priatlon.
Hasn't Gone Down Into Pocket
A city cannot run behind siN oi
seven thousand dollars a year and
! continue to run, any more than ear
private business. The city had losl
considerable revenue, some from the
closing of the segregated district, thai
revenue the mayor stated during his
campaign he would rather go dowr
in his pocket and pay than accept II
neither gone down in his pocket fol
any revenue nor has he lent us th'
slightest assistance in devising way'
and means for meeting the eity's OBJ
I legations.
The sunday Saloons.
Mayor Boatiight personally, through
his spokesmcn and through the pa
pers, has made the charge that h'
cannot close saloons ON Sunday be
cause this council will not pass an or
dinance specifically empowering hin
to do so. In this statement the may
or. whether OF his own initiative OF
that of his political advisers, is skill
fully playing both ends against tn
middle. He is seeking to hold favo
with that of our citizenship opposet
10 saloons. and at the same time Z
remain the friend of the owners ant
operators of the bars Inquiry vii
develop the fact that the saloon in
terests of Albuquerque today are th'
mayors firm friends. He was elected
by the votes Of those of our citizens
who are opposed to saloons, Sunda,
or any other day The fact is tina
Mayor Roatright has full authority tC
close saloons on Sunday. Other may
Z. FttN II .l.aIt 4
the police, who now stand ready ant
able to fill the same order whenever
the mayor gives it, The matter Of
open or closed saloons on sunday il
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