Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-19
For Areument's sake

futsble. We have, theni lett this sIate
of facts:
Everything the city buys ia sold to
the city at rate 20 per cent. higher
than II we paid cash;
No claim against the city can be
sold to any one for a less reduction
than Is to 20 per cent
City paper is not salable at greater
price than 20 per ceut. discount, and
only In small amounts
Alderman Alexander moved the
resolution that the building committee
be authorized to let contract TO en-
large the colored school house;
Alderman Hughes, chairman OF the
building committee, left the details
aud specifications Of the Contract 10
Alderman Alexander who WIS u
member of the building committee,
and signed the contract without exam.
iuing the specifications;
Aldermen Hughes aud Aldfidge Of
the claims committee approved AN ac-
count Of S2Ol7, with interest to be add
ed "as specified in contract"
The council allowed the account
without having seen the contract ON
which It was bastd
The mayor, when apprised Of the
nature OF the contract, vetoed IT.;
on the vote to pustAin tho veto, AL
dermen Andrews and Adams voted
ay aud Aldermen Alexander. Al.
bridge, Field aud Hughes voted nay
Alderman Alexander "hought at
the time that our bonds would have
met market, and that the ,lty would
have ready money to pay the ac-
couut;"
The committee were given plenary
power.
The aldermen ~ this city are the
chstodians OF the peoples interests
They knew that the current credit u
the city was Deprecated, f,r by this
fact Is the contract justified IA "the
best the city could do" la the face OF
this depreciation, Alderman Alrxan-
der moved to spend S20l7 Ia cash (the
city having nuue on haudl % enlArgp a
colored school.hou-e. Alderman Az
eS4nder makes the contract fr the
work he proposed the city should
do, That Contract % indorsed
by the votes " Aldermen Aid
ridge, Field and Haghvs a dec,
man Alexander thought the bond,
would bee sold IN time To pay
Cash for The work, but as they wtr,
not, no made "A contract that, by th6
18th of March, will cost the city .,
per cent, more than tho contract call,
for.
Would a man, acting for himself
pressure ON hls ability tn dispose Of h.,
note, TO make improvements which
could be postponed, and run the risl
Of pay 20 per cent Interest %, III,
account for four month";? Would ,
man with ss Door credit as For
Worth has, In making current plr
chases, intulge such a presumption?
Alderman Al xander knew the con
dltiou Of tho Guys eash-box WHEN h
offered he resolution Heonly though
the bonds would b. sold Wnen no al
vertised FOR bids, Having acted nn
, violent presumption aud proposed al
improvement which the city had n
!, money tppay for he "set about to I'm,
some method to protect the con
tractors, and make the best OF ba
bargain for tho city.
No msn objects TO al tduoallons
facili lea for white and black alike
Bat no man wants to p,y too dear 4,
= his whistle. The collrrd school hous
" could have VISITED Cnr enlargement M
" al the city had the money 10 pay Fl
= u. All the children II the ely wsiie
> for yeare for public schoal-houses. A
y soon the bonds were cold aud IN
money raised u nay for the work,
= should have been done--and no TAI
- payer would have said a word. Bu
y by his haste 20 make improvement
: which the ely had no money I
y pay for, Alderman Alexander W.
= forced into the contract no aistssteil
and unjust 20 the Taxpayers. The co
= ored scnool-house came IN before III
= city In the first place. aud as cons,
y quence OF this, the contractors had
y be protected Ia "the best contract I,
- the city under the circumstances -
' The Interests OF Fort Worth have n,
y been guarded IN this matter ~ nae
= would guard their own private int
= erts, and the people want only sue
T men IN office rs will be ~ jealous /
p public AZ inlrlvAte behalf
!, Judge Reapan's 90 4 sensa