San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-13

cal preachers, heve lately fallen into
the habit of descanting upon the in
difference of the masses; and to claim
that it is the frightful result of public
extravaganza.
VIII this hypothesis explain the APP
parent helpless condition of public
opinion in our city, when confronted
with the unexplained legislation of
our city council?
The official journal of the city coun
Gil in its report OF the last session of
that body, mentions, in an Indifferent
sort of way, that former ordinance
authorizing the mayor to borrow mon
ey, was 80 amended as to authorize
him to pay s per cent interest.
1t seems to have passed as q mat
ter Of course, through all the stages
OF the LIST, End, and Srd readings,
without comment, suggestion or in
quiry.
The requirement of the several
readings is evidently cumbersome
formality, 80 far as any measure sug-
gested by the mayor is concerned.
The text of this ordinance is not
given, il may not read thus, but it
should: "Whereas, extravagance,
waste, bad management and lack of
intelligent city legislation has emp
tied our city treasury: and whereas;
notwithstanding the great increase
In the assessment of city property,
the prospect of relief Is very dou btful;
and whereas, the credit of the
city Is better away from home than
at home because of the familiarity of
the people with the character of our
city government, as illustrated by the
city council; therefore,
Be it ordained etc, that the mayor
be authorized, to borrow, through a
bank, from the special funds of the
city, and pay s per cent interest for
the privilege of doing 80, the sum of
$50, 600 per month, or as much thereof
as In his own sweet will he may
deem sufficient to pay the aldermen
and other city employees for their uis-
tinguished services to the people.
1t has been long time since the
people have seen q financial state
ment examined and found correct"
by the finance committee. 1t is like
the letter the Indifferent man puts in
his pocket, and in time it will answer
itself.
Some bright morning, before the
frost falls again, and the leaves of
the trees In the parks turn red and
yellow, the people will read q pro-
clamation ordering them to vote for
the issue of another batch of bonds
in order that San Antonio's prosper
ity may be doomed.
Will the indifference that Grover
Cleveland attributes as the frightful
result of public extravaganza, allow
the proposition to carry?
In Nebraska, the other day, Gov.
Thayer in "quo warranto" proceed
ing ousted Gov. Boyd, who it::seems
mad been elected by bigger majority
than Alderman Boelhauwe. 1t took
but very short period OF time for the
sheriff to execute the mandate Of the
court.
1t only goes to show that an admin
istration alderman of the City of San
Antonio is q more permanent iDstitu-
ton than . governor in Nebraska; or
that quo warranto has different
meaning outside our city limits.
Defiance of law is no greater an Of
fence than defiance of public opinion.
The county commissioners court is
going through the motions of examin-
ing the twenty-eight plans of the new
court house.
No one will be 80 reckless as to
charge our county commissioners with
the ability or knowledge sufficient to
make an intelligent choice between
twenty-eight architectural designs for
Q public building; no one expects 1t,
and why do they undertake it.
AS we'll expect them to inspect the
galleries of the Louvre and pass an
Intelligent criticism upon the masters
of art.
A simple solution OF the difficulty
can be arrived at, by simply number
ing the plans from one TO twenty
eight, put the numbers in Judge Nc
Allister's hat, blindfold the negro
porter and let him draw out two num-
bers; the first to be the $1,000 plan,
the second to be the $500 plan.