San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-08
"FlatJustItia Ruat CoeIum."

Mr.. EDITORIAL last the day Is
breaking and the light of truth is
being thrown upon "the ways that are
dark and the tricks that are vain" OF
the present corrupt administration.
The Interview of "Uncle" Wash Tong
with Mr.. Nat Lewis opens the rehec-
tors of the calcium light of truth.
According to "Uncle Wash" Mr..
Lewis declares that his aldermanic
brother, the chairman of the public
improvement committee, absented
himself from the city because he did
not consider that Braden's street work
had been done IN accordance with the
contract and could not sign an I'M
truthful report. 1t would have been
more to his present credit and better
for his future interests and reputation
had he remained, and without fear
or favor, performed his duty and de-
| clared to his constituents and the pub
| lie what his brother now declares for
him. The remaining two of this COM
mittee made their report as ordered
by Callaghan. This is the only infer
ence from the further declaration of
Mr.. Lewis that "Callaghan said Bra
den must be settled with, otherwise
his securities will be bankrnpted."
Though it is a little difficult to see
how this could have occurred, as Cal
laghan not only kept close up in his
current payments to the con-
tractor, but actually paid him
the greater portion of the retained per-
centage during the progress of the
work, although the contract especial
ly provided that this retained per-
centage should not be paid until the
completion and acceptance of all the
work.
If it were not a matter of serious
moment to the interests of the city, it
would be amusing to see how skillrul-
ly, to the uniformed, casual reader,
his eIcellency begs the question and
apparently shifts the responsibility to
the shoulders of others, in his recent
remarkable and self condemnatory
manifesto, and proves that even idle
words are sometimes fully verified.
While the work was being done on 4th
and other streets, one, at that time
high in favor with the administration,
remarked to the writer 1.-THE day will
come when Callaghan will take his
City Engineer and the Public I'm
prOvement Committee by the seats of
their brooches and hold them up as a
shield between himself and the pub
lic.n That day has come. In this
forlOrn hope manifesto, he says, in
reference to the committee who re-
ceived the work from his friend Braden
THAT also is false" "All standing
committees are appointed at the
beginning of the fiscal year
in March," Now it will be well
rememb ered that these committees |
were not appointed at the beginning |
of the fiscal year; it was a matter of
surprise and comment that the APP
pointments were delayed; it took
little while to feel the temper of the |
aldermen and see where they could be |
placed to best or least advantage. A |
committee was appointed to inspect |
and report upon the street work then |
being done; it was supposed that this |
consisting of Messrs. Bel |
KNAPP, Kalteyer and Guerguin, would !
improvements, but their report was |
too comprehensive and intelligent, |
that would never do, only one, Mr.. |
Ten-per-cent-a-month, was retained,
and two others substituted for Bel |
Map anu hdllcySIs Ilt Gull |
THAT | changed the specifications of |
the contract is also false" if he did |
not, who did? Did the city engineer |
or this committee change them with
out his knowledge or consent, with
out the knowledge of this one man
power, who has made it his business |
to know of the dOings of the most sub
ordinate of the city's employees? Was
screened gravel used, were the drain
pipes put in? Was first-class curb |
used, was the earth from the streets
used for the benefit of the |
city? Were not these condi- |
tiOns of the contract violated? |
Will he or his committee in the face
Of known facts and of the calcium
light of truth deny it; they dare not
Mr.. Lewis statements to "Uncle
Wash" are true and they know it.
II publish in this connection" his |
eXcellenCy continues, 1.-The action of
the council for public information.
The payments on all contracts are in
variably made upon the estimates Of
the city engineer, returned to the
mayors office, as conditioned in the
contract and with the appreciation of
the proper committee. The report of
this committee is as follows: Your
committee on improvements respect
fully beg to report; we have inspected
all streets contracted by Mr.. Braden
for 1887 and 1888 and have found
them as good as possibly can be &C
cording to specifications and amend
ments, therefore, we, the committee
have accepted them and recommend
ed the payment of all moneys due the
said Braden according TO his con-
tract