San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-30
THAT VERDICT AGAINST THE CRY

THAT VERDICT AGAINST THE CRY
The recent verdict against the city, In
the French case, IL suggestive OF several
things; among them, the cost to the city
Of an administration which does not
look before 1t leaps. A review Of this
case, recently decided against the city,
and in which the award for plaintiff WAS
$3.50 and costs, shows that at the time
the action was taken by council which
resulted In the change Of location and
vacation of the old council chamber, out
of which unceremonious fitting this suit
for damages arose, the council were &C.
cupying quarters In the old French
building and had rented the same for
one year at a rental of $40 per month.
His honor. the present mayor. had only
been installed In his Office short time
when the 500 per month quarters were
not deemed sristocratio enough for the
head of so distinguished city admins
tration as that over which no was called
to preside. On the 18th day of May,
1885. a resolution was introduced into
the council by which q committee Of
four was constituted to secure other
quarters and report. At the next regular
meeting Of council, held May 10Th. 1885,
the committee reported in favor OF the
council occupying rooms in the fourth
story of the new Kampmann block, at
rental of $3.50 90 per month. The objeo-
lions urged against the removal on &C
count of increased cost, and the proba-
bllity of having to pay rent for the old
council chamber until the expiration of
the lease, were overruled and the change
was made. 1t would have been In ac-
cordance with the most common and
obvious business sagscity and sense to
have asoertained whether release could
be secured from the old holding before
accepting the new, but it was not done
and now, behold the result. The city IL
compelled to pay several hundred dol
lars for building it did not occupy, and
to this the cost OF suit and interest for
three years is to be added. For nearly
three years the city has been paying
$3.50 90 per month for accommodations
originally afforded at $50, making for
three years an additional tax upon the
city of 81 100, to which add the amount
OF the verdict in the French case, with
costs, and it is very easy to see that
that move, as unwise as 1t was unneces-
sary, has cost this city the snug little
sum of S., 800, at the very lowest calcula-
ton. Quite snug sum to pay for lit
tie style, and one which the tax payers
should not lose sight OF in reckoning
with his honor next election.
This Is but one count In the popular
Indictment. Note the law suits in
which the city has been involved by
unwarranted acts Of council, and which
have been decided against her in the
courts, OF which the Gillum and the
Mcclure suits are examples Note the
work upon streets contrary to Ordi-
nance. and nnwarranted by any order OF
council; the payment to city contractors
for overseeing unauthorized street i'm
provement; the purchasing Of materials
for construction from aldermen. contrary
to ordinance; the carelessness or worse,
in permitting certain saloon keepers to
continue business year in and year out
without payment Of license; the vandal-
ism 80 conspicuous In the destruction
of San Pedro park grove; the inequality
Of the way in which the ordinances
compelling sidewalk construction are
enforced-note these things and scores
OF others of like character, and then
judge how long suffering and patient
and accomplishing the tax payers OF
this city have been. The administra-
tion is not chargeable with corruption.
Certainly the LIGHT makes no such
charge. 1t merely charges inoompe-
tenoy, imbecillty, and the rare faculty OF
always doing the worst thing possible
under the circumstances, and for this
his honor is In the great majority Of in
stances largely responsible.
ESTABLISHED IN 1875.