San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-27
THE LIGHTS PROPHECY.

THE LIGHTS PROPHECY.
Some months since, when the ques-
ton of building a joint city hall and
county courthouse upon the Military
plaza came up for discussion by the
local press OF this city, the LIGHT took
positive grounds against that proposed
union building. The controversy upon
that point became somewhat pointed
and the LIGHT in the exercise Of it's judg-
ment, seeing the condition of affairs. de-
clared that prophecy was ever more
true than history and asserted in most
unmistakable terms that the joint build
ing would never be built. That
prophecy of the LIGHT made some
months since finds yeriticatiOn in the &C
ton of the county commissioners as re-
corded In the local columns of yester-
days issue OF this journal, The reason
assigned by Judge Wurzoach for this
action of the county commissioners was
two-fold. First. because 1t 10 not
believed that the city can guarantee the
right site as provided; second, the CON-
missiOners were not unanimously IN
favor of the project of such joint build
ing. and no bonds could be issued or
taxes levied for construction without
unanimous agreement of the court. Thus
endeth the first chapter, and closes the
book in so far as the county commission
ers are concerned.
So does not close the second chapter
which in fact only now opens. The
opinion OF Col. Walthall to the effect
that the supreme court In its decision
Diminishing the Injunction suit did not
pass upon the merits OF the case, IN Its
reference to the right of an uninterested
or unchanged party to bring suit to
enioin, leaves the original question at
issue still in allegiance. The laboring
mountain has not even brought forth
mouse. The whole movement results In
a false conception and San Antonio is
as much In the dark as ever concern
| ing her rights in her public
plazss when these are threatened by the
encroachments of her municipal head.
The movement so recently made in the
| city council to vacate the markets and
cut off the privileges of those who have
occupied the military plaza as market
for their country products, from time
! immemorial, was only a movement to
clear the way for the accomplishment OF
this iniquity, the occupation of the
military plaza as a public building
ground. The senseless policy which
would thus shut off from the county the
one privilege which country producers
retain of their old privileges, ia one
with that spirit OF vandalism which de-
stroyeG the century old grove at San
Pedro Springs TO provide a site
for convention barracks which could
Just as easily and more cheaply have
| been erected one hundred yards
distant, and so saved the grand old forest
trees from the hand of the municipal
despoiler. In like manner there is no
necessity for absorbing that plaza for a
city hall. Eligible sites have been Of
fered gratuItously to the city for its
erection, and wisdom, and good judg-
ment, and sound discretion, and wise
economy, and good horse sense-all de-
mand that when the city can secure a
free site, in good central location, for a
city hall, only greenhorn would take
city property for that purpose. A man
of ordinary business sense would say
save the city property inasmuch as pri-
yate property is offered the city without
money and without price. But then, 1t
is some time since the municipal affairs
of this CITY have been managed accord
ing to the direction of good horse sense.
The democratic journals which 90
short a time since were bowling out
their protests against an extra session OF
the unsavory Goth are now falling into
line approving the proposed session and
clamoring for it as young Illinoisian
for his bottle. Let the democratic
executive Of this state propose to hold
an extra session OF the legislature to
consider the adVisability Of establishing
the boundaries between sheol and Texas
and the average democratic journal will
fall into line and begin seriously to map
out the line. There does not seem TO be
at present any more need for an extra
session of the Doth legislature than there
is for an increased democratic majority in
the state The state has already had too
much Of both for her own good. Less
| Goth legislature and less democracy, and
| laaa Onfh lnnialafnra damnnranu In the