Bisbee daily review., 1918-03-14
NON-PARTISAN
PLATFORM FOR
CITY CONTROL
Citizens Ticket Declares for
Sidewalk and Street Paw
ing, Setting of Prices On
Necessities.


Declaring for the sidewalks and
street paving for Bisbee which the
Review has in the past editorially
ohampioned, declaring for at least
one markedly advanced war-times
step-the control Of prices on the ne
cessities CT life through municipal su-
pes-vision-making fiat pronounce
ment for municipal ownership utili-
ties, putting a foot down solidly for
termination of pie counter" politics
and the substitution therefor OF Ousi-
ness management in city affairs. and
advancing a number OF other strong
arguments for the adoption Of non
partisan principles in the coming city
election for future municipal govern
msnt, the Citizens NCn-partisan
League yesterday issued a statement
of its position that caused much CON-
mendatory comment.
The statement, signed By the Non
partisan ticket and issued by the exc
cu-ive committee which was named
last week in the non partisan mass
meeting. takes the place of the usual
party platform. II is declared to be
the most progressive article OF the
kind ever offered y the voters of any
city in the state. It's recommend
tion OF price control by municipalities
is commented upon as a practical
step toward results in the obtaining
Of lower prices for the public II At will
find xide copying and that if adopt
ed over the state generally at this
tins would result in much increased
satisfaction with conditions. The |
statement follows in full:
'-Tae Executive Committee o. the |
Citizens Non-partisan League, en- !
trusted IN mass meeting OF those ad- l
yocating the League with the duty OF 1
issuing q statement of the principles J
and PURPOSES of tho novement. rrs-i
seats TIE follOwing as the irreVocable 1
position of the organization:
Non-pertisanship in city govern
ment but no interference with poll
tical party activities Of voters IN
county. state or national elections.
FIRST-Because of the greater in
dUcement to competent, high stand
ing men in all walks Of life to under
take he service Of directing the city's
affairs.
Second-Because only with politics
eliminated from city government can
men be induced To hold office who
viii stand free from political intrigues
and Clly in this way can such ecOno-
mics and such general advantages
for all of the people OF the city be
Oh aimed as orr war time needs and
pfectices set the example FOR, and for
which the Non-partisan League stands 4
committed in the fullest measure,
beth during and after the war.
The Non-partisan League advocates
al the head Of its list the taking of
immediate steps toward municipal
ownership OF public utilities, water.
light and power.
It holds Herewith that the NOn-par-
tisan conduct OF such utilities alone
can keep them free from petty poll
teal sDOiIs, and put them On a busi-
ness operating basis which will give
their service to the public at the min
imum cost and give lower taxation and
increased value to the property Of
every taxpayer.
II holds that the experience of
municipalities in which public own
ership has prevailed under political
control has demonstrated everywhere
in the country that municipal owner
snip cannot be asuccess except under
non-partisan direction and that the
establishment of a nOn-partisan COM
munity, inwhich the majority is band
ed together and working for the COM
mon good, is necessary before muni-
oipal ownership can nationally be con
sidered.
1t holds that because of politics in
city affairs in the past. Bisbee. by
reason of that system, has suffered
excessive costs in many ways and that
its taxpayers have beer unjustly
burdened with high. taxes. and that
there is no hope Of escape from the
unjust burden of the political pie
counter" as long as political methods
0Cn1tnned on Page Two,