The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-04-21
The Proposed New Charter Is a Backward Step;
IL viii Restore the Party Boss to Power in Our
City Government. Vote Early Tomorrow and Vote mo"

LHCQUEhpUE ) degi-,oh IN the ehafisr elee.
ton io'ncFfcu viii have a vital and probably
q d~etefmin.na influence upon The Immediate
prosperity 81 this city and upnn rs future growth.
Ne know absolntel, where We stand and where
~ arr going under the present charter. which q
Iixt icfai authority. IN . public letter. has pro
no'inced valid IA every respect. Those of "a who
hafe taken the pains TO Investigate thoroughly the
sfafus u city affairs undnf ihs present cbinmis.
son government. know that the city " on the way
10 fiaancial solvcncy, 70 Improvement and TO I'M
por,nnt progress.
We do mol know where W. viii stand or Where
~ win be going under the prcposfd ucw charter.
fxerpt thai ~ adoption will lead M back 10 the
old nldcrmanic form "A government, under a dit.
Irrcni name. and that Il win lead Immediately %
election contests, partisan politics aud probably 60
ihe early ftfurn 20 power ~ the party boss, the
politician with . pail. who win take the place Of
tusiness ADMINISTRATION
We know that the "disfricf" system proposed Ia
'he new charter. - nothing mere than = ward =
tsxtcm. We know that mayor " provided for. We
know that politicians and a few men with personal
ambitions are Inc principal advocates of this new
rhnrtcr. We know that the uld-tine %politiciai ma
chine method of under-surface organization = being
employed 10 carry the new charter that the help
% men who have been paid workers in former eiee.
lions IN the county has been solicited. that Old
Town influences have bccH called in 10 help put the
new ehstter through that Il " the old. easily rec
opnized paftisan machine system against business
unhtHItIfANoT.
There are three principal arTnms ris used in be-
hall Of The new chartrr. One n that the present
charter - invalid. That has been ~disprovcd by .
FORMAL decision Of the state supreme court. quoted
In . letter printed IN The Herald today. by q. \,
District Attorney Summers Burkhnrt. This ef-
~iccfuahy onswers that argument and brings out the
further fact That there arc moro constitutional dlt
f~iculiies and confusions In the proposed charter
than ~ ne one we afe now working under.
Another argument u that the new charter will
permit taxes 90 be lowered. Howl They do not
tcll you. The fact j. Ina, every dollar Of ciiy taxes
now being levied will BE- required 10 pay actual
operating costs on a most efficient and conscrVa-
tive bnsis II administration 60 pay interest 'hsrgcs
and sinking fund charges on bond issues foolishl,
issued by FORMER city Administration NO as 10 ma.
tire al in a period Of five 90 ten years. THE
ONLY WAY TAXES CAN BE LOWERED IN
THIS CITY n BY INCREASED VALUATIONS
OF PROpERTy-MEANING GROWTH AND DE
fELoPiNG-0R by RE 1CDlATION OF orr
DEBTS.
The principal advocate Of the charter. Robert
II Putney. IN . signed siaicmrnf. announces that
"this Is mo- time 20 build for the future. Ia other
words. the new charter advocates are against a
) policy that will permit growth aud Development.
and therefore increased tax valuations. The only
other way 20 lower our taxes IS Reputation. DO
these rew charter advocates stand for that We
cannot believe that they do. We believe they have
ralsed The Tax cry IA ana evil effort 10 inflame public
sentiment and 10 arouse aniagonisms between ciii.
gems Of Albuquerque NJ a time when unity, harmony
and united pull together are om greatest needs
and our only sure means 10 achieve prosperity.