San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-07
TO HON. BRYAN cALLAGHAN.
Mayor Of San Antonio.

/ "oSOi VI Soi FN'NO''N'
SIR: In your address to the people
of San Antonio, in the Times of the
! 5th instant, you endeavor to throw
all the blame and infamy of the water
works contract upon the adminlstra-
ton of Mr.. French.
do not mean to defend that admin
istration; but to show that your ad-
ministratlon has done no better in
that particular, oven worse.
During Mr.. French's administration
the Water Works company received
about ten or twelve thousand dollars
per annum; now the same company
draws twenty thousand year or
more.
But you will say that you cannot
help it on account of the ontract.
You and the council cal help it and
if you cannoT help it why don't you
make the effort. Ever since the max
ing of the contract great d ubts as to
its validity have existed in the public
mind, ever since heard the trial of
the original suit by the company
against the city, the arguments of
able counsel engaged in the case,
and although the decision of the dis
trict court was against the city, | still
believe that the contract is void, and
I am not the only one who so thinks.
The company, even after that de-
cision, dare not insist upon it's rights
under the contract but to avoid an
appeal and the chance of an adverse
decision by the supreme court, re-
duced rents to the city and the con-
trOversy was temporarily adjusted.
l still say that the con tract is void,
the attempted compromise no better,
and will give your administration an
opportunity to convince the people
that you believe in equal rights" in
fact not by way of advertisement
about election time; that you love the
people and the welfare of the masses
better than you do the corporations.
If the city will refuse payment I'M
der the contract, will rate and tax the
property of the company as it does
other citizens C"eqUal and uniform
rights,"O 1 will defend the city in all
litigat ton that may arise in all court |
trials and appellate on terms as fol-
flows:
LIST. I Twill charge the city nothing,
and will pay all my incidental ex-
penses in case judgment goes against |
the city. After all legal remedies
have been exhausted.
End. A committee of citizens will |
furnish the city with an adequate in
demnIty against all costs that may be
against her, so that the ex-
pertinent shall not cost the city one |
cent in any event.
3rd. If the city is successful in the
suits the city is to pay me at the final
termination of the litigation, such
reasonable compensation as the city
council may fix by ordinance.
The city now cannot pay the Water
works Company if the national bank
does not lend. Your administration
has already incurred a floating debt
of Sl35, 900 at per cent. interest. If
the city should be held to pay the
s per cent. Interest is the
heaviest penalty that can be imposed.
Equal Rights" is a good motto, hut
is not consistent with exclusive pri-
vileges to a few. My offer is not a
bluff. On the contrary, l am ready to
make the contract and to deliver the
security at the meeting of council next |
succeeding the passage of an ordi-
nance authorizing the agreement
Yours, GEO. G. ALTGELT.