The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-04-06
THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE DRUG-BIIL LEAK.


The council seemed perfectly helpless in the
presence OF the formidable drug-bll reported
on by the finance committee. The chairman
of the committee, Mr.. Berg, displayed a huge
pile Of prescriptions as the tangible evidence
of the correctness of the bills, and remarked
that the committee were entirely helpless to
ascertain either the correctness or business Of
the bills and reported them with the recon-
mendation that they be paid in order to get
rid of them; he also alluded to the exhorbitant
charges, especially of Messrs. Nette and
DreiSs, the bills OF Messrs. kalteyer & Son be-
ing on an average 1913 per cent. cheaper. The
prescriptions range from Is cents to S.. or
course, a IS cents prescription is
very insignificant affair. Alderman Berg
read off several prescriptions that the
materials used did not cost cents and were
charged 60 cents.
The trouble about this matter is, there is no
check placed upon the discretion of the city
doctor, no one to see whether he wastes the
medicine in cases that are not proper subjects
of public charity or not-there ought to be
some rule laid down, and if the city is to be
alluUpathiC in its school of medicine it should
homeopathic in its expenditure of the peoples
money. Let the city doctor make out bill for
supply ofregulation drugs and the city buy them
and let the doctor put up his own prescriptions
for the poor. When it comes to putting up
two-dollar and half dose for pauper, the
job might be turned over to one of our skilled
druggists.
This is not a question of science, or Of the
contendng schools of medicine, it is ques-
ton of stopping very provoking little leak i'll
the city treasury. The city might try the plan
of receiving bids for this business, but we
think it would be more economical to make it
incumbent on the city doctor to dispense his
own prescriptions to the poor, and to
maintain a regular public office where
the poor could go for their daily supply Of
epicac, castor oil, caome, quinine, asafutida,
etc. The city would know then just what it is
paying for. The visit to the drug store with
its brilliant and beautiful ornaments, its smart
|
employment, but it would look more like bust
ness for the city doctor to hold forth at regu-
lar hours at his dispensary for the relief of the
poor.
| DIVISION or LABOR.
The chairman Of the public improvement,
committee, Alderman lockwood, reported
adversely upon a resolution Of Alderman Cope
land to the effect that the street commissioner
should employ his forces At least five days in
each ward in the month. Alderman Copeland
contested the report as not the report of the
majority, and made report in favor Of the
resolution. Some discussion arose over the
matter. Alderman Story made very sensible
suggestion and one in point in view Of the re-
cent employment of city engineer to take
charge Of the work. Mr.. Story suggested
that the street commissioner and his forces be
turned over to the new engineer. A good
idea let Us see what Mr.. Merely is made of:
let us hear from him upon the condition of our
streets and what is necessary to do to pu,
them in order; let us lift the load from the
| 'tIh vi Vic SuCCt commissioner anu put IL
where it belongs, upon the back Of the city
engineer. A division of labor and of money
appropriation is but fair and just. The reso-
luton of Alderman Copeland was rcieued
back to the committee AMI We hope the com
mittee will Formulate 4 plan to equallc the
iene6,s of the public work, and also to pu,
| it in charge of the engineer
THE ROOF BLACKS.
The ordinance regulating bootblacks elected
some discussion.
Alderman Schreiner urged that the ordin
ance be referred to the city attorney, as il
seemed to be restriction Wpan the liberty OF
| the citizen and Would produce Inconvenience
! IT nore annoying . nature than those now
complained of, as, for instance, the Esensed
bootblack would claim the right 10 the side
walk TO carry or his uade under his license,
and become fixture in the way of every
one.
Alderman Dryer urged Thai the clause con-
filming them tG hoais was wrong, for if they
paid The license it should enable them to carry
on their business anywhere in the city.
Alderman Berg denounced the hootblacks |
as a nuisance, and said The ordinance would |
largely tend 10 their reformation.