The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-04-20
THE CITY COUNCIL.
The BOnd Compromise Question.

Whereas, the city council did, at their reg
ular meeting on the 2Ist day of February,
1882, pass an ordinance authorizing the issu-
ance and sale of $751; 900 in per cent. 10 and
20 yea. bonds for the payment of certain judy
ments, rendered 10y the circuit and supreme
court of the United States in favor of certain
holders of bonds issued in 1889 to the san
Antonio Mexican Gulf railroad company, pro-
yided that, at an election to be held for that
purpose, the property taxpayers, should ratily
and approve the terms of said compromise,
as provided by section 9 of an act of the leg
islature, passed April IS. 1879, and whereas,
at an election held on the first day Of April,
1882, the said compromise was duly satisfied,
in accordance with the provisions Of said act.
now therefore be it ordained by the city OF
San Antonio, that the mayor be and is hereby
authorized and directed to have engraved and
printed the bonds authorized by the ordinance
of February FL, 1882. and that said ordinance
be, and hereby is declared to be of full force
and effect.
The mayor stated that it became necessary
for the council to3make declaration in re-
gard to the recent election, and that ques-
ton had been raised as to the result but that
the c"unciicould settle it by making the de-
claration that the proposition was carried.
Alderman Story let the municipal cat out of
the bag by breaking in with the assertion that
he thought there was no doubt about it being
carried, as his honor had convinced him,
(Story) by what he had read from book;
showing that ''his honor" had taken the pre-
caution to remove aldermanic doubts in ad-
vance, by rendering his legal opinion on the
subject.
Alderman Dwyer called for reading Of
the section of the act under which the election
was held, which, on being read, plainly set
forth that "a majority of the taxpayers" shall
vote for the compromise, not majority of
those voting.
His honor explained that this section of the
law should be construed as had the school tax
provision, which read similarly, but his honor
neglected to state that the Legislature had not
so construed the act then under consideration.
The vote was taken, and, with the excep-
ton Of the feeble remonstrance on the part of
Alderman Dryer and question from Alder
man Copeland, passed by unanimous vote,
without discussion.
That the compromise did not pass is plain
to every man who can read the English lang
uage and understand plain sentence.
But it is plain as to the intention of the par
ties interested; they depend upon the same
fraudulent course pursued in the original bond
swindle to secure their booty; the bonds will
be issued, then transferred to the hands Of
innocent purchasers outside of the state,
and if any question is raised as to the validity
of the result of the election under which they
were issued, the ''innocent' holders will re-
sort to the United States courts to enforce
their demands,
The bonds to be issued under the above
ordinance are of no better standing than the
original swindle.
THE ENGINEER QUESTION.
Among the communications presented by
the mayor the following was read:
CRY ENGINEERS OFFICE,
San Antonio, Texas, April 9Th, 1882.
To the Mayor and Members Of the City Council
San Antonio, Texas.
GENrIEMEN-My mind having been dis
abused by Alderman Berg ofthe idea that any
personal indignity was intended me in the
resolution requesting a report of the private
work done by me and the amount of fees
therefore l have the honor to state that no
disrespect to the council was intended in not
rendering said report. The fact that daily
report is entered and has been since my entry
into Office, in book kept as customary by the
ordinance-this book being at all times &C
cessible, and which is herewith remtted-
made the report asked seem superfluous.
II any confidence is to be placed in my
former rodman, Carl Schreiner, to whom the
correct keeping of the book was entrusted
the book entries from February Ist, 1881, to
March 25th, 1882, furnished by said book =,
give an accurate, precise statement of all pub
lie and private field work done by this office
for that period.
would further state that have never had
time to keepa money account of fees received.
| am positively unable to say what they amount
to exactly, though l do not underrate them
when | state that on an average, the year
around, they about equal the official salary.
1t must be borne in mind that while various
circumstances-such as the growth of the city,
the departure or death of nearly all the former
surveyors has naturally somewhat increased
my private work, yet that had steady and
private practice before took this
office.
would further remind the gentlemen that
one ambulance, worth SI5o, has been worn
ont in the general service IF the nfnre-thot I
have bought ano her which is already badly