San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-04
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying.

What the People are Saying.
Ex.President Cleveland is Away
harping upon the necessity OF eduoat
ing the masses as to political ques
tions, the people of our city need t.
post themselves thoroughly upor
municipal questions. Our debt IL
becoming larger every year; our rate
of taxation necessarily keeps pace
with our bonded debt. Our financial
management needs q complete re-
form.
Our business streets and leading
thoroughfares are now in possession
of street railway corporation; private
gas and water works monopOlize the
supply of these two prime necessities
overhead is q mass Of electric wires;
huge ungainly poles obstruct our
sidewalks. Practically we own
nothing but the privilege of getting
about as best We may.
Our property is at the mercy of the
tax assessor and tax gatherer; it is
all mortgaged to pay for so-caIled
public improvements.
AS community, We are drifting
farther and farther away from that
supreme control of our public affairs
so necessary to the comfort and pros.
perity of civilized city.
Incre asing population only adds to
the public burden and increases the
wealth and arrogance of private cor
poration. The taxpayer should be
given the most economical and best
service for his money. We must have
sewerage, and the city should own
and control the water supply; it
should own and control at least the
public lighting of the streets.
When q :town Is "booming'-cash
plenty labor in demand-real estate
going off like hot cakes to hungry
customers, tho tax gatherer Is regard
cd with indifference; extravaganza in
city management excused, and Of
ticial reck lessness overlooked. But
when we come down to q legitimate
basis, the case is different.
A halt must be called by the people.
1t will take at least two years of q
new administration to put the finances
of our city upon a proper basis. 1t
may be two years of rigid economy and
But we had better
have q halt, and preserve our city's
credit. Not 90 on and reach the
condition, (announced
through the to egraphic news, of the
prosperous city of Dallas.
Stop the borrowing of money on
notes at per cent interest, or If the
bank that has been 30 accommodate
ing as to lend money on such doubt
full security, should refuse to do so
any longer, then San Antonio would
be face to face with the came crisis
that confronts Dallas.
Dallas has had a progressive city
and has much to show
for the money spent; but issuing notes
to pay debts and raise money, just as
Mr.. Callaghan has been and is doing,
has brought Dallas to a financial
crisis so far as its city government is
concerned.
Our City Council has authorized
the borrowing on notes bearing per
cent interest-$30,0 900 per month to
keep up the bread and butter bri
gade; of course this kind of financer-
ing is not very safe or brilliant; but
the people of San Antonio are not so
particular as the Dallasites.
Compared to the actual condition
of our city finances, the financial
troubles OF Dallas seem trifling; the
Dallas city treasurer has only allow
ed himself to be over drawn $1,000;
there are out $50 900 or $40. 900 floating
vouchers, and there is no money in
the treasury to pay with; such is the
statement; why, our absent Mayor
would laugh at such trities.
The "test" of the new fire alarm
system, as it is reported in the daily
papers, is a farce. Alarms were
turned ON from five" of the boxes,
and the paid department was turned
out to see what kind of time they
could make. This Is no test at all.
The system may work perfectly but
the "test" given it by Alderman
Lock wood is too thin.
Every box should have been turned
in and record kept of the register;
not only this, but, If it was the pur-
nose of "testinpU it. the propram