Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-10-21
TIE CITY.
A Further Discussion OF Some Things
which People Are Discussing.

Which People Are DiscuShtnRs
Tho city council has appointed n
committee 10 make inquiries regarding
the expense OF carrying ON the city
government, with q view to reducing
II possible the sum now being paid out
for this purpose. This Ia a step In the
right direction, and is moro than likely
to be productive OF much good, Times
arc hard and money is scarce the
country over. business mon
I'm all branches of trade
are curtaillng expenses, many Of
the leading houses are conducting
their business with halfthe force EN-
ployed during the "flush times,n The
city council intend to labor under the
banner OF "retrenchment and REFORM"
and 10 Alderman Andrews belongs the
credit for taking the initlatory stop.
The committee viii have large field
to work in. Money In slipping out
OF the treasury through many
cracks and orevices which II will be
the purpose of the committee 20 In.
vestigate, and, ,ifit be possible, prevent.
THE GAZETTE cannot speak for the
committee only In 40 far AZ their re-
corded actions indicate, and does not
aspire 10 become their guide or leader;
stlll there are many things which
might properly be considered In an In
vestigation OF this character. Among
many other things 10 would loo inter
esting To know how many deputy mar
shals there are In the city and who pays
them II the city, by what authority
OF law 1.-THE city does pay the dep
uty marshals aud " there IL law for
the city to do 80 IL Will silence the
questionlngs OF those who want 10
know II such IL the case 10 be shown
the law. IL would also crafty the
public to know why special counsel
was employed to ascertain the rights
Of the city In case wherein one rail
road was plaintiti and another railroad
defendant. Why was the city attorney
passed over and his opinion not asked?
Aud the committee on economy would
satisfy public curiosity II they would
investigate and see II the salary OF any
city official has been raised without
legal Warrant-it being n popular i'm.
preston that tho salaries OF city OH.
clals are required by law 10 bo fixed on
the LIST Of January, TO take effect after
the installation of the officers elected
In April. In fact, the report of that
committee viii bc looked for with
great interest by the people
The annual report OF the finance
committee, made and published I'm
March ~ the law requires, has not
been denied or challenged. The re-.
port Of the city treasurer has not been
published. Article 86j of chapter M
of the Revised Statutes says, In dehn.
Ing the duties of treasurer. "lle shall
render IA full and correct statement of
his receipts and statements To the city
council at their first regular
meeting In every quarter and whenso-
ever, ut other times, lac may be re-
quired 10y them 30 10 do: at the end of
every hali-year he shall cause TO bo
published statement showing the
amount Of receipts and expenditures
for the ak monthR next preceding,
aud the general condition Of the treas
ury; and he shall do and perform such
other acts" etc. This section of
law IL quite plain aud easily
understood. lls object IL to
have IA seml-nnnual report from the
treasurer Ina order that there may be
something TO compare with the annual
report OF the finance committee. IL
was not contemplated by the statute
that tao treasurer aud finance commit
tee should meet together In good
fellowship and issue IA bulletin
once year as report for both. Tho
law was framed 10 make each furnish
n separate report, that one would be "a
check upon the other Six months h
long enough to keep people In igno.
rance of what Is being done with city
finances. People want TO see for them
relyes.
The city water-works question would
seem 10 place the conscript fathers In
the attitude OF thu man who held the
lions tail. They would Ike Tor some
one to help them to let IL 80.
when oats are worth rs cents on
the square we have to pay ~ to ~
cents for them. said city official tn
the reporter, 1--WE have no money
aud must let the middle men make
their per cent?
THE GAZETTE has not cast any in-
furious reflections upon tho council in-
leas IL be Injurious 10 state what Ia a
fact that certain members of the cOun-
oil have exhibited more than ordinary
0eal for the public welfare against the
Fort Worth Street Railway company
In the effort OF the company 10 build
on Twelfth and Jones streets. Tun
GAZETTE has neither said nor lnslnun.
ted that the city council or any member
OF IL WIS corrupt; mother has IL aald
anything that could bo construed by
any fair, intelligent reader into a
charge-that the city council was cor.
rupt. Thevery utmost that could loo
inferred from rHE GAlEprE's treat
ment OF the subject was that Aome
members OF the council had seeming.
~ been more biased than WAS consist-
ont with their character ms public ser
wants