San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-23
OUR CITY DADS.
The Mayors Annual Message to
the Board of Aldermen.
The Annual Budget Presented and Ac-
ton Deferred for Special Ses-
sion---Mackey's Resolution.

1tSltIud1 allclHOOu a iSSu hh'''''
Of the City Council was held, full
board of aldermen being present.
The minutes Of the last meeting were
read and approved.
The following petitions were then pre-
sented:
Citizens, asking that peddlers be COM
PEELED to move their stands from Main
and Military plazas. Referred TO Com
mittee on Petitions and Ordinances.
II. F. Lohrberg and Eliza Schlinger,
for remission oftaxes. Assessment Com
mittee.
Citizens, that blackberry street be
plowed and graded. Granted.
His Honor, the Mayor, then read his
annual message, as follows:
Gentlemen of the Council.
have the honor to present to your
consideration the working of the differ
ent departments Of the city for the fiscal
year 1870, and it may not be amiss TO
state that when this present administra-
ton were elected and assumed office, the
Treasurer's books showed balances in
favor Of the different funds, as follows ::
BcXar County fund ............. ..... Sl5,:G9 50
Specal fund .................. ..... l4.W3 90
The present Treasurer informs me,
however, that the above amounts did not
exist in kind, and that he reCeipted for
the books only. | believe that the above
balances were paid out for other city
purposes than those for which they were
cole cited. 1t may be claimed that the
total sum due the different funds should
have been replaced out of the collections
made in 1856 for lSSi-5. That was not
practical. First, because the charter and
ordinances direct the appropriation OF
all taxes collected, tO-wit:
There shall be annually levied and col
lected tax of not exceeding per cent.
for general purposes, and per cent. Tor
special purposes, etc. Under this Ordi-
nance the following tax was levied:
Fo. general fund, 50 cents on 500.
For special fund, 20 cents on 500.
For BeXar county fund, IL cents on
500.
For school fund, 10 cents on $500.
In addition to the above cited Ordi-
nance, refer to section 43 of the char
ter and to chapter l6, section ,, of the
revised ordinances, which absolutely
prohibit the use of special funds for any
other purpose than those for which they
were collected.
Second, because the general fund paid
in 1885 had 10 be applied to the payment
OF current expenses and past debts, and
among other debts | name the $4,000
over draft due the bank.
The departure in the management of
the finances IN abandoning the rebate
system has given good results and the
city has made money by it. Under the
rebate system the amount OF interest
paid on overdrafts for the years 1888 and
1884 amounted to Sl.l02 10; rebate al
lowed as per statement of City Collector
S6,40l.2O; total 81, 5U4.lO.
Under the present system the city
issued 10 notes OF $4,000 each bearing
per cent. interest, with the exception of
the first note which bears 10 per cent,
and had to pay S3,O23 IS for interest and
SGl2G4 on the existing over draft; total
50, 63500, q difference in favor of the
present system of S3,SGS. | am satisfied
that the city will pay less interest for
the present fiscal year than she ever paid
before for running expenses.
The Collectors report showing the
amount collected for the year ending
February %, 1886, and q statement of
the disbursements for city debt for the
same period is hereby submitted for
consideration.
The report of the Collector shows re-
ceipts from all sources up to February
Sth of S205, 49S.2S; over and above that
there was still due the city 100000. of
which $4,000 will be collected, making
grand total collected in 1884 and 1855
OF S305, 49S.2S. The expenditures for the
year, according to the report OF the City
Clerk, amount to S2l9 G5O.90, leaving a
surplus of SS5, S47.37, which will be APP
piled TO the payment ofoutstanding bills
for 1884 and 1885. after Crediting the diff
ferent funds with their pro rata.
The promises made for the admins
tratiOn have been well kept. one OF the
first measures being the election he Id to
ascertain whether the property tax-pRy-
ers would authorize the issue of $4,000
in bonds for the purpose of building a
city hall. The people. in their wisdom,
refused the authority asked for, but fol-
lowing that, authority was given TO is
sue $4,000 in bonds for school purposes,
and with that amount five school build
ings have been added to the many exist
ing before, so that to-day the city finds
herself at the head of seven school build
ings for white children, with an enroll
ment OF 3,2OS; two school buildings for
Gil colored children. and in addition to
that high school for the whites. About
Sl5O,O00 have been spent in the purchase
of sites and in the erection of the build
ings, and is money well invested There
is no longer an excuse for the heads OF
families to rear their children in liz.
nOrsnce, and the enrolment shows
fully that our citizens appreci-
h.
other expenditure which desire to men,
ton is the amount appropriated for the
macadamizing of the principal thorough
fares. The work done by the contrac-
tor is under the immediate supervision
Of competent engineer representing
the city. The work is progressing as
rapidly as could be expected, and | do
not doubt that it will be completed
within the time stipulated in the con-
tract. The steam roller ia indispensable
for the kind Of work now in progress and
the gentlemen advocating the purchase
thereof deserve well, for it has proven a
success.
We may also congratulate the citizens
OF San Antonio on their acquisition of a
city hospital, which will be finished and
ready for occupancy ere the pr, sent year
rolls around. Through the courtesy of
the County Commissioners Court the en-
tire control and management has been
ceded to the city and the plans of Messrs.
Wahrenberger & Beckmann adopted BY
the joint committee are very thorough
in detail and provide for all modern i'm
provements necessary for such buildings.
When completed it will cost about Si2,-
600. This includes the purchase price
Of the site and about $1,000 for furnishing
the building.
The extension Of gas and water mains,
the refunding Of the 10 per cent. bonds
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