The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-12-22
CHIPS And SOILED DOVES.
AN INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR FRENCH
on THE GRAND JURY REPORT.
The Ordinance Powerless Owing to the
Charter-He Thinks the County Omcers
Could Check These Evils.


paper bull against gambling and prostitution
from the grand jury. BY nearly all it is
looked upon as a spasmodic effort at reform,
which usually issues from the retirement Of
all grand juries in every county seat. But its
open and defiant attack on the city authori-
ties-its covert suggestions to have them at
raigned for nonieasance Of duty has given
this document prominence not hitherto ac-
corded to the inquests Of smelling committees.
To hear what Mayor French had 10 re-
mark on this subject LIGHT representative
called on him at his office this morning. The
Mayor on being Intercepted said he had read
the document from the literary bureau Of the
grand jury, and was then asked to give his
views Of il, which he did, substantially as
follows:
Il was not altogether unprepared," said
Mayor French, "for this, though ] do not
think it represents the careful reflection Of the
members Of that body. II has been entrapped
into striking at me, through the efforts OF Mr.
George Dashiell, who is no friend Of mine,
and hence the machinery OF the jury has been
used unknowingly TO many OF its members, no
doubt, to assault me personally. This, to say
the least, is an undignihed and surprising use
OF its power. As to gambling and prostitution
being carried on so openly it is admitted by
all who are anyway familiar with the subject
that the city is powerless to repress the evils
in most Of instances-powerless to enforce its
own ordinances. 1t is worse than useless it
is a travesty on justice for our police to arrest
violators when the Recorder is obliged, under
the law, to turn them loose. There was an
ordinance Of year ago held illegal by Judge
Noonan because its penalties conficted with
the State statutes. Our City Attorney amended
it and it was enacted so that the penalties were
the same as to fine and imprisonment as the
punishment under the State law. Judge Cal
laphan Justly held il illegal because il exceeded
the penalties named in the charter Of the city.
So you see we are completely fenced in and
our hands tied. We cannot expect the Re-
corder to perform ex officio the duties Of
Justice of the Peace. This would be TO have
our limited police force perform the duties Of
Constable, Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff. The
fines in these case would 60 10 the Slate or
county, and our city thus be deprived of one Of
lis sources ofrevenue for the support ofthe po-
lice force. The city has already two justices
for this purpose, and our policemen should
not be compelled to bring their prisoners be-
fore them, leaving their beats and dancing
tedious attention before them as witnesses.
As far as the city is concerned there is a rem
edy to a certain extent. We can do as the
Dallas people did, where recently they have
entered las charges against single gam
bier, apply TO the Legislature to
amend our charter where it has
been found faulty. When this is done will
not be slow to enforce the ordinances. You
see hence that the motive Of this attack on me
from some men who are fully aware of the
obstacles which grit round me is purely
personal"
"But, Mr. Mayor" queried the scribe,
"Cannot the State or county authorities en-.
force their lawst"
ayes; beyond a doubt" replied Mayor
French, but they do not. When we failed to
enforce our ordinances in the courts Marshal
Shardein offered his services and those Of al
his force to aid the county officers in suppress
ing the evil, and can say that theer-fourth'
Of the arrests on these grounds where the par
ties are tried in the District court have beer
made by my police. The State law is not al
tentative as TO fine or imprisonment; il is con
junctive, yet how frequently is it the case tina
convicted gamblers are only punished for on,
oiiense out Of many, pay small fine, but ar'
never sent to Jail, as the law distinctly de
clares they should. II they desired to en-
force tine State law they can do so with happy
and prompt results. Some eight months ag'
) Judge Noonan charged the Sheriff to enforce
the law, and, obeying this mandate, he ha
all the gambling houses in the city closed il
three hours, showing they knew just where t.
put their hands on them and that they have
s wholesome dread of law that is not a dea
letter like our ordinance in this respect. BE
sides, every saloon keeper under the Stat
q statute must give bond in the SUN OF $Ioo
o to keep an orderly house, and permit n
gambling yet have we ever heard of III
bond being forfeited in any instance in cases tn
most glaringi II Judge Noonan will i'm
prison convicted gamblers as well as fin
y them on one conviction out of many; If II
Sheriff will use his Office as effectively as
. has been shown he can do; il the District A
@ torney will sue saloon keepers on their bone
D. for permitting gambling, it seems to me thi
any one or all Of these would be found vic
!; enough avenues to get out of the difficulty.
OF they so willed it they could close every OF
of these places by shutdown and keep the
L. closed. am not shifting any responsible
have taken counsel from all the Alderm,
for many months. They are with me me
Oh earnestly to suppress these evils, but as
patent to all, our charter initiates against al
-. further action till the Legislature widens
,e, scope and confers the necessary jurisdictio
Us Give me the power and | will not wait for
-, grand jury to goad me with the person