Arizona state miner., 1926-02-13
THE STREET CAR
PROBLEM

nounced himself a candidate for re-
election to succeed himself, and City
Commissioner A. L. BOehmer has an
nounced his candidacy for reelection
to succeed himself, on a platform OF
"A bigger, better, more prosperous
Phoenix and a greater, more pros
porous, happier citizenry," to be
achieved by "Lincoln's Government
for the people, of the people and by
the people conducted in such way
that the people each day may know
how their public servants are con-
ducting the peoples affairs"
No citizen can find fault with such
a platform as this. And no citizen
will question the sincerity of the in
tentions of either Mayor Jefferson or
Commissioner Boehmer when these
two officials declare for such a plat
form.
1t is not necessary for anybody to
try to tell the people of Phoenix that
these two gentlemen are whole-heart-
edly interested in the welfare and
upbuilding of Phoenix. Everybody
who knows these men knows that is
true.
Neither of them is of the imperial
istic or csaristic type of temperament
Both are genial, plain, good citizens
among a genial, plain, good people.
~ aVYf q
government ''for, of and by the peo-
pie" is not to be doubted. That such
a government will react to produce
"a bigger, better, more prosperous
Phoenix and a greater, happier, more
prosperous citizenry' is inevitable.
It was that reaction the immortal
Lincoln clearly foresaw when he
enunciated his great principle of gov
ernment, which has since taken its
place among the great and eternal
Truths of the ages.
The further announcement by Mayor
Jefferson and Commissioner Boehmer
that they are going to give practical
effect to their platform if reelected
by presenting, before the primaries,
not after, complete plan for the
rehabilitation and refinancing of the
local street railways system vii hOut
any increase OF taxation is COM rt
ing indeed, and is proof positive tnat
these two gentlemen mean to carry
out their platform in an immediate.
practical and helpful way for the cit
izens of this city.
Messrs. Jefferson and Boehmer have
Of their own personal volition and at
no expense to the people, secured
the services Of an expert to figure
out this plan for rehabilitation and
refinancing of the street railway sys-
tenn. The whole city is indebted to
them for that act of public spirit and
civic pride-and experts cost money.
The best evidence of good faith
that could be asked by the people is
the voluntary declaration of these
two officials that their plan will be
made public before the primaries not
afterWard. That IS an attitude and
an act of able, honest, conscientious
officials who know what they mean
and mean what they say.
The present street railway system
is deplorable. 1t is sa.lly out of
keeping with this city, which. other
wise, is the equal of any city of like
size in the United States-which
means the world, for modern, clean,
healthful location. construction, pro-
gress and people.
That the City Administration could
hope to do much with street railway
situation in the short few weeks it
has had charge Of it would be fool
ish to assert. The system was badly
run down when the City took it over,
and it is to the credit of the city
officials that they were able to keep
it operating at all If the admins
tration has been able to barely make
operating expenses it has done wei
and the Star believes the street rail.
way system has actually done better
than break even under the manage
ment of City Manager Henry Reiger
and Mr.. Newcomer.
City Manager Reiger has a busy
municipality of more than $4,000 peo-
pie to manage. Consequently nobody
expects him to give more than a small
fraction of his time and attention to
the street railway system, its man
agement and operation. Mr.. New
conner has no funds to work with,
worn out equipment to handle, badly
deteriorated tracks and power lines
to contend with, and a patronage
which is at the lowest ebb-for we
might as we'll face the truth-and
the truth is that no one uses the
H.