San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-19

bis duties and as to the complaint accusing
the honorable mayor and council for restrain
ing him from supervising all city work. your
committee is satisfied that the city council
have full power to prescribe and to order the
duties of each and every city official appointed
or elected; we would further state that we are
certain the city can get better and more work
done in the manner the business is conducted
at PR sent than in any previous way. and re-
commend the action taken by the city council
good and economical one. For further par
uculars we respectfully refer to Section lsS
city charter.
Smye moved to adopt the minority
report. Gallagher asked for little
time. The reference to section 12S
was mere subterfuge. The section
quoted was widely at variance. He
had observed that up to few months
ago the wisdom and efficacy of the Or
dinance governing the street commits
siOner were never questioned. But
about year ago the mayor and COM
missioner had disagreement over
some minor point. Campbell had dis
charged from his service for gross in
efficiency a young man who was a
friend of the mayor. Then it was dis
covered that the ordinances pertain
ing to the office of street commissioner
were in need of revision and amend
ment. Since that fateful day the
street commissioner had been subject
ed to system of petty meanness, spite
and persecution. He had been nearly
wholly Invested of his legal pow
ers, which had been usurped by the
mayor and city engineer. The opera
ton of the alleged Objectionable Sec
tons had given eminent satisfaction
under previous administrations, and
why didn't it now? The mayor was
now in effect street commissioner.
The gentleman elected by the people
to this office was compelled to give
heavy bond, but the mayor gave no
bond. Neither of the reports made
could be adopted for the reason that
they meant to amend an ordinance.
'If it is desired to strip the street COM
missioner of his powers,n said Gala
CHER, first repeal the ordinances and
do it legally. The time is coming, gen.
tlemen, and that very soon, when you
can't afford to be governed in your
actions as aldermen by the winks and
whims of one man. / know there are
some few in the council who are indie
pendent, but the majority of you are
slaves. OF course there is great unan-
unity in this chamber; so is there in
hell; so did there used to be in Rome,
but -
Here the mayor called him to order,
and advised him to cOnfine himself to
respectful address of the chair.
The minority report was then
adopted, Degener, Gallagher and
Lewis voting no.
The street committee then reported
as follows:
Your committee to whom was re-
ferred resolution directing the city
council that Chapter so, revised ordi-
nances, particularly Sections 2 and 4,
be enforced, beg leave to refer the
alderman to Section 12S of city char
ter. Adopted.
The fire committee reported favora-
bly, on the petition of the chief of the
fire department for additional room.
A communication from the fire de-
partment stating that they had deter
mined to celebrate the Fourth of July
on an extensive scale, and asking for
money to aid in defraying the eX-
penses of the celebration was received
and filed.
The sum of $50 for repainting the
mission market was appropriated.
Guerguin, for the hospital commit
tee, reported unfavorably ON the petit
ton of the San Antonio Medical col
lege for the use of the city hospital.
Degener said he was a member of
the committee, had not examined the
petition and had not signed the re-
port. He would therefore ask that
the petition be re-referred to the hos
pital committee.
The repOrt was adOpted
Alderman Smye wanted West Com
merce street improved as a resolution
adopted some time since called for.
Richey asked what had become of
the appropriation to improve West
Houston street
Gallagher wanted to know who had
placed a wooden drain at avenue G.
and 4th street. The contract called for
a vitrified drain pipe. The city should
have had nothing to do with it. How
ever, that job was just like all others
around town with which the city en-
gineer had been connected. Now that
there is a rainy season the city is full
of mud holes and frog ponds, where
the amphibious quaGrupeds sat night
ly and disturbed The sleep of the peo-
pie by singing the praises of the city
engineer to the ture, "We'u Cej
There After While" West Commetc zee
street was in far worse condition than
before any work was done on it. If he
were such an engineer he would de-
vote his time to writing a huge vol
ume entitled, "What / Don't Know
About Engineering"
NEW WORK.
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