The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-03-19
IN Considering Proposed New City Charter Ii Will Be Well to
Keep Before Us Time tried Admonition: Look Before You Leap

siourrs. to be nominated one from each district and
elected atlarge. " Il Is possible that by breaking the
terms 10 as "a elect three commissioners at one
election and two at a succeeding election, and by
limiting nominations 90 one to q district. q choice
might be offered the people. But that would assume
that only ono candidate for commissioner would Of
fer himself from each district at any election and
20 limit CONDOLENCES m that way would be q clcrr
restriction Of the right conferred upon ANY quail
fed voter, . IN Section ., 70 rin for the office Of
commissioner.
Again. Section I Of Article 4 provides that the
legal powers II the corporation shall be vested Ia
a commission 81 five lAemhers elected nj large IN
the manner herrinbcforr provided. Unfortunately
the manner hereinbefore provided seems 20 fail
10 say how II hall be done. And IN the succrcdine
section Of Article 4 we find again that amy quail.
fed voter Of the city shall be eligible for election 10
the commission from the district Of which he is
such a qualified voter"
How Is oil that law going TO workf
Will we have five district elections wherein
Shall be first determined who shall be ne candidate
Tor each district; aud thereafter another election
"at large IN which all the candidates will have
been elected in advance because there Il no opposi
ton and no opportunity for popular choiccf
This proposed charter mcaus IN effect return
10 the old time aldermanic form of government. ac.
companied by a Pandora box chuck full of con.
fusion. uncertainty aud chances for trouble about
how 20 elect the aldermen. II i true that Section .
Of Article . provides that The Commission shall
be the judge Of the election and qualification VI IT.
members which some might consirue TO mean
that the commission will have full power 10 pick
aud seat IL successors from the field Of candidates
also the power 20 throw ont members ut will. ~ be.
times has been known 10 happen IN Legislative
bodies.
II is stated that the districting scheme was
added 10 the proposed charter bill after Il had been
drawn IN Albuquerque and introduced in the lcgis.
laiure. No considerable number Of citizens knew
anything about the bill until II had appeared in the
assembly Whoever introduced the disiricting plan,
and however il was ininoduced, il has been NJ var.
iously woven into the document ~ 10 make II very
doubtful what u means to accomplish or how II
proposes to do IL.
IL Is small wonder that, after reading the bill
members Of the senate oGcrcd the amending CLAUSE
adopted. which provides that should the city faJ
10 adopt this charter then the city should confirm,
under the form Of government then IN existence. II
was m difficult for members of the legislature "a
tell what this charter will do in actual operation
an Il Is for citizens Of Albuquerque TO tell what il
will do. Probably il vas no error OF Judgment q,
protect the largest city IN New Mexico from being
left without any form ~ government AZ all.
The Herald is convinced that not one citizen il
a ulousand cares one single, solitary wioop whether
Albuquerque Is governed 10y democrats or by re-
puDlicans. No long M our government IL honorable
efficient and faithful TO the best interests of Albu
Iheflhc. We 40 not believe ihHt partisan polite
should Ice injected into consideration Of tins matter
or that the vast majority Of citizens will PERM
Il TO be M injected. We believe that an ~oyerwhclm
ing majority If citizens agree that we have an hon
Urable and efficient city government. wholly faith
il 10 the best interests Of Albuquerque. We hay,
been shown no goOd reason why. under ~cxisiinl
conditions. this city should embark upon what a.
very best Is a risky experiment We do not question
the good FAITH, or the honesty Of purpose Of iho-
who undertook To- correct defects ia the rXisfiui
charter. We are forced to conclude that IN correct
ing some defects they LET M IN Tor others that ar
infinitely more serious.
Certainly this Is a ease IN which We shoul
heed the timc-tricd admonition Look before yoO
leap