San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-10
CROPPING IN THE DARK.

certainty about the condition of our city
finances, that is as puZzling to the citi-
zens as it Is dlscreditable to the council.
From the proceedings of yesterday even
ing's regular session OF the council IL is
only too apparent that those who trans
act the business Of the city, for the city,
are as much in the dark concerning out
lays, contracts, expenditures, condition
OF the treasury, obligations, ETC., etc, as
the ordinary citizen, whose attention Is
only given cursorily to such matters.
The men who accept Office under the
hands Of their fellow-citizens and qualify
under oath, do solemnly covenant with
those whose business agents they be-
come TO do their business for them as
though 1t was their own. This covenant
and obligation the members OF the coun-
ell Of this city have taken upon them
selves, but the transactions Of their
council chamber and the records ofthose
| transactions do not show that they have
transacted the public business as they
would have transacted their own. Max
ing all due allowance for the latitude
given public servants, particularly menu
bers Of municipal assemblies, there still
remains no real or apparent justification
for the condition of affairs as re-
vealed in the proceedings OF the city
council Of San Antonio from time to time.
There may be honest and earnest diff
m mi far ~
cipal policy waterworks, gas, pave
ments, surveys, general improvements,
sanitary measures and the like-but
there cannot be two opinions as to the
necessity OF keeping the financial records
and accounts Of the Municipality in such
shape that members of the council, at
least, may know what has become OF the
funds, and be able TO give an account
from the books, when called upon, of the
disposition and expenditures of city
moneys. That this Is not done Ia seen
by reference TO yesterdays proceed
ings, published in this issue OF the LIGHT.
In settling up accounts with the coz
tractor Of the city hospital a deficiency
Of SIG, 200 Is found in the hospital fund,
and no one OF the council is able to give
any account or explanation of the affair.
1t is this peculiar feature Of the case
ance OF the council concerning the dis
position of its own funds. Here il a
syndicate of citizens, chosen to leoS
after city business, collect city revenue
and expend it. They know no more
about the condition of the city's books,
what has been ordered done or not done
with certain funds, how certain credits
have been placed, what has become of
money borrowed, ETC., ETC., than II this
knowledge was not demanded Of them,
and the accounting for all and several Of
these funds the very and express
business for which they were elect
ed. These Irregularities and failures
have become more exposed since the
mayor OF the city has been absent from
the council room, and it may be that his
honor has the whole matter at his finger
ends. But 1t is not enough that the
mayor understands these matters. 1t is
necessary for every member of the city
council to be as well informed concern
ing the city finances as his honor, else
how can any intelligent action be taken
on the questions involving taxation and
municipal expenditures The proceed
ings OF yesterdays council show most
unmistakably vast perplexity, pro-
found bewilderment, on the part of the
council to account for the dilemma In
which they find themselves. 1t is a
strange thing that OF all the members
present yesterday, none knew to what
purpose the $4,000 borrowed one year
ago to make up deficiencies had been APP
piled; no one knew whether any part Of
1t had or had not been placed to the &C
count Of the hospital fund; no one knew
how 1t was that the fund had fallen short
when 1t was reported amply sufficient
to meet the expenses of the building
when the contract was let-in a word,
no one knew anything about 1t. The
LIGHT charges nothing upon the council,
not even incompetency; but it does af-
firm that from their own proceedings 1t
is painfully evident that municipal
affairs are In decided muddle, and that
San Antonio has very little cause to
congratulate herself upon the showing
made by her city solons.