Arizona republican., 1922-03-13
See the kimbalI RiIl Throuah

The friends of House Bill in and out of the
legislature should spare effort to see that is
promptly put through the It apparently has
little opposition The opposition offered to It in the
house, in the Of attempt to inject destruc-
tive amendment-the five year guaranty clause-was
50 futile that no antagonism to the purpose Of the
bill has since been openly offered The only amend
ment proposed in the senate in no way affects the
Kimba amendment to provide for active compet-
ton in bids street paving Nor the other hand,
can how the amendment proposed in the senate
committee can conserve any privilege now enjoyed
by those who opposed to wider competition in
bidding But to all except certain residents OF Tue
son and to certain paving contractors the proposed
amendment is immaterial.
We believe though that there is yet secret oppo-
stion to the Kmbal bill, with without the fourth
section which it is proposed to eliminate and that il
possible its through the will be de-
layed 1t is already doubtful whether the necessary
majority to carry the emergency clause can be
cured Unless there is such a majority the opera
tion of the bill would be held up until the first of
next year. IL indeed the bill should not finally share
the general fate OF initiated and referred measures
In the course OF the debate on the bin in the
house whole committee question was incidentally
raised whether free competition was a good thing
Ridiculous and illogical that question was and
it was so regarded by the house in passing the bill
by unanimous vote have since heard it referred
to in private discussions. There cited "hor-
ribe example" of competitive bidding the character
Of the pavement West Washington street between
Seventh avenue and the capitol building.
That that is a worthless paving and suspected
Of being from the beginning is true. That a
mistake made by the city commission and the city
government-the same kind Of a mistake that COM
mission council could make either under open
restricted bidding. The only theory by which the
government could be prevented from making a siml-
lar mistake would be the theory of the superior wis
dom Of the people. who rule know nothing and
generally nothing about the various types Of
paving, debating particular type to the exclu-
sion Of all others.
The city commission or council the other hand
supposed to inform itself about the various types,
to consider their merits along with their prices When
the latter disclosed by competitive bidding under
the pending bill, then the subject is to be submitted
to the property owners and the latter
exercise their superior restricting knowledge II
they have It, OF paving the guidance OF the
mission the council, which has secured for them
the lowest prices on the various types.
Thus the property owners will not be deprived
of any privilege Of choice and they will have the
advantage of the prices extracted from the
moters Of various types Also they win be freed from
which affect them when they sign petitions for
single type without any information to what it is
going to cost them except what interested solicit
tor for that particular type tells them bandy and
offhand.