Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-29
THE LIMITS OF WACO.
A Mass Meeting of Citizens Considers the
New Charter.
Views Expressed by Gentlemen OF Local and
State Prominence Resolutions Express
ing the Desires OF the People.

Specialize the Gazette.
WACO, TEx., Jan. Son account of
the opposing delegations which went
down TO Austin in the matter of new
charter for the city, Senator Harrison Of
this county was not able to know what
Waco wanted and accordingly asked that
mass meeting of citizens in the present
limits and those in the terri
tory TO be added be held.
The meeting occurred in the district
courtroom tonight, and Senator HaTri-
son came up from Austin and attended in
person, The large courtroom was
damned with citizens, and more interest
seemed to be taken in the question than
any point which has ever been up before
them
Mr.. Ed Rotan was made chairman and
Mr.. J NJ. COnnor secretary The audience
at first seemed TO lean towards the side of
the opponents of the charter, who repre-
sented that it was wrong to force them
into the city when they did not wish it;
that the real object of the council
was to get larger tax values SO
that it might issue more bonds, which
it was now prevented from doing
because the constitutional limit
had been reached. The discussion
dwelt for some length upon the
legislation of the council and severe crit
icism was INDUCED in for the way the
money obtained by bonds had been ex-
pended.
This brought the members Of the eouu-
ell TO the front and the battle for the
time waged fierce and furious, the out
siders insisting that they were wanted in
side to assist in bearing the burdens of
the city without reaping any of the bene-
fits.
Judge George Clark and Judge L. G.
Alexander crossed swords, the former in
favor of the charter and the latter
against it. The constitutional points
were thoroughly discussed and the coun-
ell agreed to have any Objectionable
features eliminated.
Alderman Caruthers and Mr.. Jas. Q.
Moore, opponents of the charter, recited
the history of the delegations in Austin,
and Mr.. Moore was quite severe on Rep
resentative Kincaid for an alleged flop ON
the question after announcing his opposi-
ton. Finally Col VIM. Cameron got the
floor and made an argument from a bust
ness standpoint, showing conclusively to
all present what advantages accrued
to those persons who resided in
the city in reality, but because of con-
tracted limits did not pay taxes to the
city. He cited Fort Worth as an in
stance, and showed what advantage it
had been to that city to extend its eorpo-
rate line.
Mr.. W. W. Kendall offered the follow
ing resolutions, which were adopted by
an overwhelming majority:
Resolved, by the people of Waco in
assembled, that we be-
lieve the best interests of Waco will be
subseryed by new charter and by the
and proper extension of the
present corporate limits, but that the
new charter as published in the Day has |
several Objectionable and perhaps uncon-
stitutiOnal provisions it it, and that the |
limits of the corporation as laid out in |
said new charter are Objectionable.
That we favor an extension of the !
present corporate limits, to be run as
nearly as practicable in direct lines with |
as few angles as may be, so as to include |
within the city the territory and popula- !
ton which naturally and practically is a |
part of the town, but not run with many |
angles and to favor q few individuals |
whose interests or wishes might induce |
them TO oppose the extension of the |
limits to include them and their property. /
That we respectfully request the legis- |
Iature to amend the bill now before it so |
that the charter shall conform to the |
views expressed by this resolution, and |
when so amended that it be enacted as |
the charter Of the city of Waco.