San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-21
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying


city government where the people must
take hand. Defiance of the mandate OF
the highest court of the state leaves but
one last resort-the people.
The refusal to obey the decision of the
Supreme court and seat Mr.. Hoefing has
placed the mayor pro TEN and the city
council in fragrant contempt of the high
est judicial tribunal of our state.
There must be legal remedy for this;
jails are built for the confinement of of.
tenders against the peace and dignity of
the state. The murderer, the thief, the
diSturher of the peace, is punished be-
cause he holds the code and the courts in
contempt.
What use have we for courts if their
mandates are to be held in contempt?
What security for life, property
or personal and public rights have the
people if the courts are powerleSS to en-
force their judgments?
The Callaghan city administration has
at last reached the climax of its high
handed irresponsible career. Public
opion has been ignored until it has be-
come common saying, what are you
going to do about it," and now a decision
of the supreme court is treated with as
little respect as protest from the intelli-
gent people of our city, if made in oppo-
sition to any thing that this administra-
tion might undertake. what are you
going to do about it,"
The people have watched with care and
interest every step of the Hoetiing Boel-
hauwe contest. They recollect how the
city administration made itself party to
the contest; how the poll lists were re-
fused and only produced by an order from
the court; the delays; the failure of the
city attorney to come into court, and
box inspected and the ballot c0nnted
over; Mr.. Boelhauwe's appeal to the
supreme court: and now comes the final
mandate seating Mr.. Hoefling. Mr..
HOefling did not appeal, it was Boel-
hauwe who appealed.
There is no avoiding this final decision
except by open defiance of the court of
last resort. There can be no revision Of
this decision, it can only be resisted as the
offender who, pursued by an officer, re-
sists arrest, and takes the consequences.
But the people must understand the
exact state of affairs; the determination
to keep Mr.. Hoefling out of the council
may be one of the flats issue by the boss,
and the city attorney and the Callaghan
council men obey orders.
The mayor pro tenn and the Callaghan
councilmen regard themselves as simply
Mr.. Callaghan's agents, not as servants of
the people. If they want any law they
must get it from Bergstrom, no matter
what the courts may say.
AS Mr.. Callaghan's agents they are
anxious to postpone the seating of
Hoefing until Callaghan returns, so
BergstrOm writes them an opinion to the
effect that there has been no proper de-
cisiOn OF the contest and that the city
preme court. And this is the shelter I'M
der which Mr.. Callaghan's agents have
taken refuge.
This opinion" should cOnSign Mr..
a position outside the bar. 1t is the worst
piece of rot ever perpetrated by a lawyer
Having given this "OpiniOn" Mr.. Berg
strom packs his grip and leaves for a
summer vacation through the northern
RergSirom is q citv official and is Maid a
handsome salary ont of the neonIa's
money Vet he leaves his most of div
without avon aSkiOa n IeaVe IF obSorco
Now, since Mr.. BergstrOm is up for dis
cussion. let us see what kind of a city ad-
ministration we have got so far as the
law depar tment is concerned. As LAWYER
Berg strom appears for Mr.. BeIhanwe
in the courts: as CITY attorney he advises
the city council not TO regard the man
date Of the SuDrpmp pourt In this don hle
DaPaet ty WI. del SoCio,n oSConies NeIy
case IN 6icb ct anu attarn eht OILY