The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-03-26
, DOPTI0N Of the sewer and water
"a bond issue proposals is essential to the
- growth Of Albuquerque. Their ap.
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~ AanhN " AUNh " DIX AONh hIo
been most OPPORTUNITY injected into the city
campaign by the publisher of the Journal in
support of his demand that Albuquerque must
elect three commissioners of his choosing. This
makes II necessary TO consider with care Just
what elements and what kinds Of city admin
~istration are essential in making a Little Town
into a Big Town. Here is a real and vital issue.
It's determination is much more important to
Albuquerque than Mr.. Magee's positions"
his unique theories of public finance, his per.
sonal wars, his political plans, his Civic con.
seriousness or even his "innermost soul -
Because Albuquerque, Little Town or Big
Town, % will be here long after Mr.. Mlgee has
gone on from our midst into the Dawn of the
New Day.
How far Albuquerque is to progress from
Little Town toward Big Town will be deter.
mined for at least two years by the decision
of the people for or against these bond issues
If the funds provided for in the bond pro.
posals are made available the city government
will be able to lead the way toward Big
Town. " If the bonds are defeated the city
government hands will be tied at least until
the next city election, and in the interval AL
buqlerQle will be anchored fast to Little
Town" by its sewerage and water supply linn
%itations.
1t follows as a matter of course that if the
people approve bonds for expenditures total
ing $3.50, 900, they will exercise the utmost care
in choosing commissioners 10 direct those ex-
penditures. Direction Of such an outlay, for
every reason of public safety and service,
should be in the hands of men whose financial
and executive judgment and ability have been
tested and proven both in private and public
business. Cornell, Mclaughlin and Reynolds
have been subjected to this test and have dem
onstrated their possession of the kind Of ability
which the city government most needs in the
immediate future. Waving the red flag of
prejudice at these men only serves to emphasize
the clean cut record of efficiency they have
written at the city hall
In course Of a TRADE Of petty fault finding,
the Journal charges that these commissioners
have conducted themselves las though they
were running a private business. That state
ment is the exact truth. No higher tribute
could be paid to public service. These men
have given to the city's business the same care
lW attention, TIE SAME tlOIt dlu ~ SohS
ability that has made each of them successful
in his private business. They are the kind OF
men this city needs at the helm if Albuquerque
is 10 solve successfully the Little Town or Big
Town issue.
It is oontended in behalf Of the Journal
ticket Tingley, We'll and Walton; that the
three commissioners should have extended the
city limits, lowered water rates, opened blind
streets and put into execution a city plan.
All are agreed as TO the necessity for doing
these things. Every member Of the present
city commission favors them. The hobby OF
Commissioner Council is a practical city plan
and he has worked steadily and intelligently
toward that end, with the cordial cooperation
of all his associates on the commission.
But Council and his associates have recog-
nized the fact that before the city limits can
be extended to include new territory the city
must be prepared TO provide two essentials
sewerage and an adequate water supply. To
make this provision requires very large invest
ment of money in new sewer construction and
increased water storage and pumping equip
ment.
To open 'blind" streets means paying for
property or condemnation proceedings involv-
ing large cash settlements.
To lower water rates, without increasing
taxes to cover a deficit, necessitates largely in.
creased consumption, volume business which
could not be taken on without new supply
equipment and new water mains.
The program Of progress desired by everyone
calls for an outlay Of real money. 1t cannot
be carried out on impaired credit, a public def
ioit or hot air. To try 10 carry it out on any
such basis would not have made little Town
into big Town" II would simply have dug
ar s4,I. Tnwn't deeuer into the hole. City