Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-22
,,,-rc0Av APRIL %, 1919
. FIGHT WITH AN INSIDE TO IT.

There is more at stake in this elty
oloction than appears on the surface.
A large element in this city, dissatis-
fled with the way IN which the city
was being run. asked for representa-
ton in the city government. The OPP
position 10 the adoption of the new
charter is really opposition to grant
ing recognition TO that element, That
is known 10 the leaders of the fleht
on both sides For this fight the city
commissioners are responsible. The
fight could have been avoided, Inc
+. Journal tried TO prevent it. If the
charter carries. it will end.
The voters of Albuquerque Will
choose today between the present and
the new charter
Under the present charter three
CITY commissioners will continue to
direct the destin!es of Albuquerque
until 1922. The present charter cam
not be amended legally, any more
than the proposed charter, except
through the state legislature.
On that point let no man deceive
YOU. Chief Justice Roberts of the
state supreme court, not acting how
ever in his official capacity in any
sense of the word, struck out the
amending clause from the bill taken
to the legislature at Santa Fe. on the
ground that it was unconstitutional in
the Old charter.
But it was contonded that as the
attorney general of the state alone
had the right to legally question the
consttutionality of the act, it could
be taken for granted that he would
find no occasion to exercise such right,
therefore, the present city charter and
its amending clause would remain
operative. even if technically contrary
to the state constitution.
1t was held that two new commits
sioners could he elected, if the people
of Albuquerque saw fit to amend the
old charter permitting it. The oppo-
nents of the new charter held up their
hands in holy horror at the very idea
OF adopting the new charter which
made it impossible for the voters of
the city to amend their own charter.
But now they know that the matter
of amending the one charter Is exactly
the same as amending the other. If
additional members of the commission
are to be had. the new charter must
be adopted, as II provides for two
members. The old charter doesn't so
provide.
The Journal doesn't believe in the
recall of public officials. but q large
number Of people do believe in re-
tention of that power by the voters.
Under the new charter any one or all
of the commissioners can be recalled,
and the people will elect the success
sor or successors of the commission
err or commissioners recalled.
The old charter provides for the re-
call, but if one commissioner is re-
called the remaining two elect his
Y u,
the remaining commissioner will
name their successors, and if all of
them should be. recalled, the city
would have no government, because
the old charter provides that the re-
call shall be Immediately operative
and no provision is made for Killing
the vacancies. re
The Journal is not afraid of the
consequences If, under the new char
ter, two commissioners should be cleo
ted representing organized labor and
the small Taxpayers.
This is a time when big business
shouldn't assume to run much of any
thing except its own business, and
we shouldn't permit radical socialism,
which is trying to impose minority
rule on the country, to gain any fur
ther ground in this country.