Albuquerque morning journal., 1919-02-17
Pierce Rodey Argues
For Present Form Of
Governing The City
Editor Morning journal:

Editor Morning Journal:
one can hardly refrain from doubt
ing the motives of the conscientious
objectors to the present form of COM
mission manager city government es-
pecially If one reads with care toe re-
port of A. r. Hebenstreit, our new
city manager There is set forth in
that report what has been done and
what should be done to make Albu-
querque the biggest and best little city
In the southwest.
TO summarize the report is an in
justice to the city manager, but brief
ly the report explains that what AL
buquerque needs is the legislation per
mlttlng the collection and lew of it's
own taxes; a redistribution of road
and automobile taxes and licenses
based on population an Improvement
OF health regulations; a paving pro-
gram; enlarged parks; a provision to
retire bonded Indebtedness. etc. It is
the first time to our knowledge that
comprehensive financial statement
that has been given the citizens which
they can intelligently grasp.
The truth is that we have a splen-
did form of city government, and all
We need to prove that assertion is a
fair chance under the present COM
mission manager regime. Our police
protection costs less per capita than
most any city in the United States;
our fire department has a small per
capita cost, and in many other par
ticulars our town is spendidly gov
erned. The water department shows
a good statement. one cannct read
the report of Mr.. Hebenstreit without
being impressed that paving, parks,
city planning, etc, will go ahead in
Albuquerque if we as citizens and tax
payers will take an interest and help
all we can with needed Legislation and
moral support,
Shame to the fair name of Albu-
quer, the city was formerly largely
supported by liquor licenses, fines for
disorderly conduct and drunkenness,
and other relics of the wild and woolly
days, but like all other victims of a
new and better world order, Albu-
querque does and will stand on her
own merit if given little time. The
suggestion to enlarge the city limits
Is good one--say to take in to the
east the mills cf University Heights,
to the south as far as the tie plant and
San Jose; to the west to include as
far as the river Gncluding, if possi>
bic, Old Albuquerque); and to the
north to include Mr.. Ros!ington's
place; or in other words, to take in
the center of population about Albu-
querque. That would give the city a
large revenue at a decrease in taxa
tion when based on real valuation for
SeSsment. At present much of the
traffic and people who daily use the
streets are people who bear no share
in the city's expenditures and yet
their very presence necessitates more
street expenditures, better policing
| and fire protection, etc.
With definite system of retiring
| the bonded Indebtedness with dcfi-
mite city plan: with paving plans
| formulated; with tax legislation
| Planned, etc, it looks as if A'tuquer-
| que were headed the right way. Let
us get back of our city manager and
boost. The only reason we can see for
! this so-called petition which is being
! circulated to return to the council
manic-mayor plan of government is
that someone wants a little pork
! or wants a little petty authority in
| politics. They are malcontents who
would rather criticise than give con-
| structive boost and help ont, and II
is our belief that the intelligent citi-
zans of Albuquerque will turn a deal
| ear TO such malcontents when they
| know conditions as they really exist
| Above all, Mr.. Citizen and Taxpayer
read the report of your city manager
| before you pass judgment.