San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-19
SHORT STOPS.

1t is generally understood that Mr..
Callaghan has gone to France and at
| this very moment is on the broad At
lsntic out of sight Of America.
The strange thing Is, that this alb
sence in q foreign land does not seem
to excite any comment or anxiety.
Mr.. Callaghan has taken q liberty
with the government he presides over
that President Harrison dare not at
tempt, as president.
1t is understood that Mr.. Callaghan
lett his orders, and that our ship of
state is sailing with its helm strapped
down just as he left it.
4
1t is not uncommon for q mate to
take charge of ship and perform the
duties Of the captain, but the captain
Is somewhere handy about the ship,
in case of storm or other emer-
gency.
Yesterday visit to the city council
room proved that we were running
before the wind without a mayor.
First Mate Schreiner, an experienced
old municipal salt, was on deck.
There was air Of restraint upon the
crew, and the mate glanced at the
helm to see If it was tied down Just
as the captain left 1t, and an evident
anxiety that no contrary breeze
should rise to blow the craft out to
sea or upon the rocks, because the
helm had been strapped down.
When Muth's name was called
there came a faint response, us if Bit
tiers had lifted up his coffin lid and
answered roll call.
No test of the unbroken power of
the administration was visi BILE until
the communication from city electri.
clan Ryan was read, asking that he
be allowed to employ two assistants
and line man at an expense of Sl95
per month.
Alderman Beckmann had the temer-
ity to ask if this expenditure had
been provided for in the "budget:"
this interruption brought alderman
Lockwood to his feet and as boat
swain, he piped the crew to the "poop
deck" to lend banda line had to be
hent-there was an immediate ne
cessity."
1t begins to develop that the paid
ire department, for which there was
was no necessity, is becoming neces-
sarily, very expensive affair.
Beckmann's motion to postpone &C.
ton until next meeting, to give op-
portunity to investigate, was not
seconded; q parliamentary incident
that Alderman Conner called atten. |
ton to with q loaded finger pointed
at Beckmann's head.
Muth voted ~" to the proposition
making the additional approy riation
Of 81, $40 per annum, and auth, riZing
the appointment of Mr.. Ryan as
sistants. Beckmann interposed Ii soli-
Lary mo"
After this little incident nothing
occurred to mar the routine work of
the ship of state. The crew polished
up the brass work and did other
minor 'chOres" about deck.
Il
Now, our mayor is no doubt on the
ocean, suggesting to the
people this nautical illustration OF az.
airs. But while he is pursuing his own
affairs there Is no reason why the
helm should remained strapped down
as he lett it.
Acting Mayor Schreiner should be
able to meet all emergencies, and the
people have a right to know how our
bond business stands. Nothing
should prevent our city council from
\ full and fair investigation into the
business of the people.
Mr.. Callaghan has proven that a
mayor is superfluity-the city can
get along with an acting mayor. Per-
haps he has discovered the secret of
at long range; he has GER
tainly put his powers to a severe test.
The dicisiOn of the county commits
sioner's court in selecting the plans
for the new court house excites a yari-
9ty of comment; it Is not as the ma
Iority of intelligent persons, who ex-
amined the plans, thought it ought to
be, but 1t was so much better than
expected that there is panaral accant