Arizona republican., 1922-02-26
statement by nc. Irvine


/ had not intended to take an ac-
tive part in the present city election
campaign, for both tickets are COM
posed of high class business men,
against whom there is nothing to be
said as such.
And have nothing personal
against any candidate on the Tax
PAYERS Ticket" but do take excep-
ton to the way they make their ap-
peal to the voters for their suffrage.
Their whole claim. as they present
it to the people in asking for their
votes, is based on the alleged mis-
management. Incompetence and in
situations Of dishonesty of the pres
I ent city administration.
During my terms as city commits
sioner, the first under Mayor Corp
| stein, in which the plans were made
and the contract let for the redwood
pipe line, and the second under May
or Plunkett, in which the Verde pipe
line was built, the whole purpose and
| endeavor of the city manager and
| the city commission was to execute
| this work as cheaply and economi-
cally as possible consistent with
good business. our first consideration
| being always to have all work done
| we'll and done right.
Charges were freely and openly
made in the election campaign two
years ago that there was redwood
pipe steal" But the insincerity or
| the accusers was apparent. for at no
/ time, either during the campaign or
afterwards, did they attempt to make
any investigation, or in any way TO
prove those charges, thus making II
| plain that their allegations of graft
were made only for the purpose OF
| getting votes.
This apparently is the policy Of the
Tax PAYERS Ticket" for while they
do not directly charge US with graft
in connection with the Verde water
project. they allege gross ntsman-
I agement and extravaganza IN con-
nection with this work.
l want to say here that the city ad-
ministration did nothing in secret or
under a bushel, but from time to
time. as the plans and the work
progressed, we have published all
the facts and figures in connection
with this work, and on behalf OF the
navor. the city manager. the city
| enainecr and the commission l want
to say that we will welcome any IN
vestigation by any reputable civic
organization or body OF taNpayers'
l
posal any records or data IN possess
sion OF the city and give them all
the assistance possible in making
such an investigation.
The TAX Payers Ticket in a
signed statement published in both
the daily papers. charged that the
city administration. by a policy OF IN
! difference and petty politics. DELAYED
and retarded the construction OF lne
Cave Greek flood control dam. This
statement is absolutely false. for the
citv commission and the city man
arer did everything in their power
to promote and expidite that work. /.
The question is frequently asked
why was the cost OF the Nerue
water project so much more tnan tne
: original estimate? AS l said before
: ali these facts were given due pub
; Iicitv AS the work progressed, but Il
: apnears that many people eltnel
neglected or were too busy to read
J them at the time. therefore state
ment OF them is very pertinent al
this time.
Z THE facts are that we were caught
! In that great whirlwind OF soaring
; nrices OF labor and material brougn1
} about by war conditions, as We're
t | hundreds of others on concrete ex-
J ample Of which Is the Arizona Dea :
coness hospital which was estimaIese ats
7 TO be completed at O cost OF Sio'VVV.
f Since then we have spent tnat mucn
: and 1t viii take at least $io'VVU more
to finish 1t. -,
> Our engineers estimate OF the cost
$ Of installing the Verde water proJec'
I to twelfth street and Mcdowell road
: made on May 10. 1919. was Sl,SOO0OO
5 The time necessa for the calling OF
: the bond election. advertising for the
8 sale of the bonds. and the advertising
!. for bids on the work took us up &c
T March 10. 1920, when the CONTRACT
\ was finally let, during which time
I the increase in the cost of the lum-
h her necessary TO build the pipe ilhe
n alone amounted TO $250,0OO more than
: il was selling for at the time the esl- s!l
n mate was made. This | think satls-
r factorily explains the increased cos'
Of the Verde water project
: The candidates on the TAX ray
ers' Ticket come out plainly on lne
! issue of firing the present city man
\ aeer and cleaning out the presen'
j citv, administration. ] certainly aa'
{ r,ira their honesty but seriously
c question their judgment in TINS mat
!, fer. Mr. Thompson has been IN tnt
II service of the city for is wears, setN
: ing as chief engineer OF the NaIel
works superintendent OF the watel
: works, superintendent Of streets ans ans
city manager. He is familiar WIZ
the requirements and detail OF ~
: the departments of the city, ana ~
e has under him competent ana et.
ficient staff Of department heaos
: who are honestly and faithfully car
e rying on the business OF the CITY II
: the several departments, ana 70 stel
d :, ana fire the whole administration
n would he bad business for the cit1
: and the very height of folly.
d For my own part, if I were a can
h didate in this election, would Stan'
souarely on the issue OF retaining
a the present city manager.
r Very truly yours.
h j. A. r. IRVINE.