The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-09-17
Prominent Citizens Of Albuquerque Come
to Defense Of Charter and Give Reasons
VIII. it Should be Adopted September Is

Te tho Editor of The Evening
Herald. The time Is drawing near
when VIC must either adopt or reject
a new form az government for our
city. do not like TO ppear too
often asserting my views. but the mat
yer h 70 important that / cannot re-
frain.
some very upright men are or
posing this charter. and others equal
" upright are faVoring It. This Is
wei, and a would be well n all mat
tors concerning the entire state could
be 80 discussed. IN that way We
might eliminate considerable boss
rule.
am for the charter. and intend TO
vote for q, because IL means progress
n Ia a vast Improvement over the
existing System. THAT IL the reason
why ask every friend ] have IN the
town 10 vote FOR IL Also.
The trouble with the statement that
the proposed charter Is socsniistic, IL
that |. f. not > Z. ! take issue with
that statement. and claim that there
IS nothing soclaiistic about It. The
time has passed when the initiative.
the referendum ard the recall could
he 80 characterized. Those provisions
are now considered ar essential wcap-
q % q sovereign people in every
constitution and charter. and any or.
rnnic instrument thas omlts them ~
considered Incomplete. sacas pruvi-
sions enable the people 10 pass leEis-
lntlon they desire IN spite Of all out.
SIDE influence; enables them TO annul
evil legislation that may be put
through by mistake or through cor
rupt influences. and enabioa them to
dismiss incompetent or unfaithfui
public A. 10 the new city
charter. the recall would apply only
10 the commissioners. and so would
be very simple.
Al this proposed new charter
amounts 70 is, that IL takes the city
government and gives IL into the
hands OF three citizens. who IN turn
employ an expert manager 10 conduct
the city's affairs. The three citizens
are called commissioners they pass
the laws or ordinances and watch the
management. and IL their manager
does wrong or Is incompetent, they
discharge him.
M Important tutlE ABOUT the pro-
posed charter. is that the nominations
Of the commissioners Is by petition.
That Is the first ray OF real political
light that has yet dawned in New
Mexico. hope II viii keep dawning
and breaking until our state possesses
complete petition nomination laws.
primary laws and Australian ballots.
Objection has been made that the
proposed new charter is not drawn
quite as carefully as it might be re-
garding elections. succession in office
and SO forth. but my answer 10 this
Is h a II II so easy q amendment
that within six months after we adopt
Il. the commissioners viii surely
frame ard submit TO the people for
adoption the few amendments neces.
sary 10 round out It's provisions. But
even as IL now is. ] predict that the
will work all right. II re-
luires about 500 voters TO sign a petit
lion 20 recall a commissioner. My
prediction Is. that before any discon-
person could secure that num-
Der Of sieners 10 a petition. he would
shamed out OF trying IL, IL his ac-
ion was III advised or unjust.
A. for the objection that numerous
elections will result. even as the char
Ier now stands, ] deny IL. The people