The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-01-07
CAN WE AFFORD TTp

THE forthcoming report II the city manager on the business Affairs Of Al
about $4,000 o January J. 1917 rs no" only .ssu, $500 and a., That n,I this
from taxes is obtained In 1890 The sinking funds have been supplied with
msns has a small balance after esntiSauns Literally to the ds's operating
rhs showing is a sood one. The commissioners and the city manager
are cnuned q credit for sound financial management up to this time and
It mus be remembered, however. th, the earnings OF the water depart
sSsmsns regarding The years bushes. to a Herald reporter. me income Of
The law requires that after December l.. 1870. all income from the water
department over interest sinking fund and upseep requirements shah go
soea constructive policy thu, "a 's nnse o 81 o. the . commission MIS- " - ian ave
not buy the water works As a source Of revenue % oDsra,ins expenses The
and ~ 500 a a surplus exists . maintenance and improvement charges
Al the same time there Is included In Our amazing la rate increase in
BernaAlo county. a Increase In city general purpose axes o. 20 mills y
Ia true that this increase was necessary to take the place OF liquor revenues
i0se su. it is an increase Jus. the same and tasp1ysrs must pay II
Of Albuquerque IS on Of debt o tina, it has yet passed the financial breakers
csed We must not expect too much in increased service rom the city gov
a right TO expect ina me ommnaoners win continue 10 exercise the most
80 canomy un,nr We are in calm anancai wa,en. with plenty OF coal in
4, n ssvuSs noI ~ up rsna We ~ a mn n sM% .D a~- aSsas IN munieTpaI spenSips. :"
There = a proposal pending before the commission, to Increase , salary
a N executive session o. the commission a majority Of the members are un-
STREET has obtained. Commissioner Hushes and swope oppose the increase
no, believe This city a afford 20 pay Mr. Hebenstrat o n one els a
The Herald believes that cox mssioners Hughes and swope re right
This newspaper has been sad e support both ,e om%lsion and tn city
basis OF results accomplished. Mt. Hebenstret is a competent val he
bring. good training, deep interest and enthusiastic enerEy to his work lie
is setting results He ma be doing 5000 worth o work a year. lie has
pay hun or any other manager $3.50 a year; and that salary should no be
paid Q a city manager Sn nn1 n ss en-" Vs. nn %1 S Hnm 10 " balance !"
II Is often sAd that the city Is no more than a big business institution
in which all the people hold shares; and It Is a principle Of big business
that a executive Is worth whatever he can make the business produce In
other words. n saary is too big Il the ia who sets it produces tn result
desired. THAT may be sound in private busne-t 1t must be qualified a e.
CARDS the city. A private business In order to pay large salaries earn
the money by extending its sources OF income, pr increasing the volume. The
city after a certain stage has been reached IN license tax Elections
cannot Increase It's income because Il has n o other sources upon which to
draw.
This city hs % reached that stage
1t is understood that Mr. Hehenstrht has been offered a $1,000 SALARY in
another city. one Of the commissioners has been quoted to that effect Mr..
Heeenstreat Of eOune's justified on personal grounds in aeeepnns All the
remuneration he nj get here " elsewhere There Is nothing o a personal
, aSu =. 70 o ~ manage MANAGE should shodd Se the nst to recognize the limitations that
nus be placed upon official salaries in this city. and We ire absolutey sure
ht te commissioner should be abb. 10 recognize hose limitations II the
city managers salary did not Yield him a comfortable living the eomnis-
slaners might bc justified In exceeding tn salary speed limit TO raise his pay
nt his present salary Of $1,000 a year while not large a salartes g in these
days car hardly be called meager.
The commissioners. before they raise any salary should We believe
forces in both police and he departments These re but two u
MANY places In the city government where more money Is needed Even
$500 a ear spent q stree crossings, would help nhzing}
But beforer missing n Item OF expense In te cy government under
existing conditions the commissioners should ask themselNcs ms question:
"Can " e afford ~"
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