The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-11-26

If the Proposed City and County of Albuquerque" Is Sound
Economically 1t Should Not Be Blocked by Partisan Politics

Q ENERAL months ago the Herald suggested
that there might be material savings effected
and valuable advances in efficiency made by
the creation of the City and County of Albuquerque.
Since that time there has been more or less discus
sion of the project and il is now receiving some SER
ious consideration:
The proposal was first made here ia 1909 when
Bcrnalillo county was undergoing something of a
political revolution and il was aimed AT that time
10 overcome AN autocracy in the county govern
mcnt, which fortunately was overcome by other
means. In rcviving the suggestion IL was not the
purpose Of the Herald 10 assert that the setting mp
of tile City aud County form and boundaries would
solve the immediate financial difficulties of the city
government. II will not. We were not prepared
then and we are not prepared now 10 assert that
the City aud County plan is the best plan for this
community. 1t does, however, offer the way 10
immediate and sustained economies which are i'm
portant. II would not only save money but would
permit very important increases IN efficiency,
through eliminating useless duplication of expense
and effort.
The suggestion should have careful and thor
nueh examination before being accepted or dis
missed. We cannot afford 10 continue u program of
changing our form of local government. We cannot
afford To continue in an atmosphere of agitation for
change. II is bad for business, against the kind Of
settled policy which produces permanent and en-
during growth and is bad for our peace of mind.
We need 10 get to a settled basis and stay there.
The economies and increased efficiency fore
cHSitu Tor thc COMMISSION FORM OF government nave
not materialized. No thoughtful person expected
them to matcrialize simply by the transition from
one form of local government 20 another. A COM
mission government has no more capacity for mir
aclc working than had the old aldermanic form of
government, Time and settled policy and pcrsis-
tent effort are aS essential 10 getting anywhere in
public effort as IN personal effort. II Is 10 hc expect
ed with confidence that IN time the commission form
viii show decided advantages over the aldermanic
form. 1t may be- that the present form and boun-
darieS should be- let alone. Certainly we should not
move precipitatcly to another change in the form
of orr government until we know something about
where we are going.
il is not unlikely that sooner or later the City
and County plan will be adopted locally not he
cause it has werkcd out elsewhere bu3 because il
eliminates a lot of useless and waStefuI duplication
of effort and expense and because IL appears to fit
INTO local conditions. Because this is the Herald'S
opinion. we do not intend 10 undertake 10 force that
view down the Threats of aur neighbors. We would
he perfectly willing to see several Legislative SEES
SONS pass without acti0n, If in the meantime we are
Wurking out this. or some more effective plan which
will put our community ON a firm, substantial basis