San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-15
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying

What the People are Saying
The people are disappointed because
| the late grand jury were unable to
thoroughly investigate the rapid tran
sit electric railroads. under the very
! emphatic charge given by the judge.
1t is not that indictable offences
might be uncovered but that these in
| cOrpurated enterprises should be ven
tilated and if found reckless in the
| use of their valuable f auchises, so
tnat the lives and property of the citt
zens are endangered, remedy might
be had, even if it resulted in their en-
| tire abolition.
Rapid transit Is recognized as nee
! essity in every city having suburban
additions or residences. but such lines
should be so built and conducted as
10 afford absolute safety to the citizen,
and not to damage or depreciate his
property.
The rapacity of corporate bodies
should not be given complete sway
and allowed to occupy every highway
so that the bile traffic, and public
convenience would be hindered or
annoyed.
These corporations have obtained
valuable franchises without paying
one cent for them, SO far as the pub.
lie knows; they mOnopOlize our streets
and in PORTIONS of our city have taken
charge Of every approach to the COM
mercial and business center. They
have been allowed to put down the
heaviest and most Objectionable kind
of rails, their switches and turnouts
are as dangerous to all wheeled We
hicles as the ordinary railroad; they
have been permitted to tear up i'm
proved streets, and their tracks all
over the city are so constructed as to
be dangerous and destructive to all
other modes of travel or traffic. This
should not be and would not be if the
city government was run for the ben
eft of the people and not for the es-
peciaI benefit of the private corpora
tions that are fattening off the peoples
bounty.
The owners of hacks, carriages,
wagons, horses, either for pleasure or
business, pay taxes; they have a
right to be considered, and no street
railroad should be permitted to exist
for day that damages, or endangers
their property.
Judge Noonan only called attention
to the danger of the net work of wires
by which human life has already
been sacrificed, but how about the
broken carriage wheel and the family
of wife and children dashed to pieces
in consequence of the protruding rail?
How about the rows Of business
houses, whose business has been
brought TO stagnatiOn because the
railroad company is permitted to stop
the street work Tor weeks, in order to
await their supplies? In no other city
could such things happen.
The grand jury may not be able to
find q remedy for these things, be-
cause the many phases OF negligence
and abuse OF corporate privileges
find no remedy in the criminal code.
But public opinion is powerful and
will eventually produce a remedy If
it has to be found at the ballot box.
Let the people think and express their
thoughts.
Let grand jurles lay bare the public
grievances, the press keep the people
posted, and all intelligent citizens
aim ut a reform that will sweep away
the last vestige of the present condi.
| ton of affairs
The day showed q back number
when a com bination of officials, of
pot house politicians can d ictate to
| the people or make or unmake tickets
for the people to vote for.
| The next legislature must be ap-
pesled to to secure a reform in the
methods of voting, as we'll as q better
guard over the right, and privilege of
| citizenship. II won't do to have the
| peoples interest entrusted to officials
who hold places by reason of the
pollution OF the ballot box, and the
votes Of purchased aliens. The Ameri.
can citizen must have the whole say
so v hen 1t comes to the matter OF the
| choice Of public servants
|
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