San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-22
SHORT STOPS.

SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying
! The more the people think over the
high.hsnded action of the city council
In not complying promptly with the
mandate of the supreme court, the
greater the indignation expressed.
The case develops with discussion,
and every intelligent person can
| readily see that the action of the city
council was preconcerted, deliberate
| resistance to the decree of the
courts.
Ignorance might be plead i'm extern
uation of the offence committed.
But Ignorance and crime are
twins.
The Bergstrom "opinion" was pre-
pared some days in advance of the
meeting of the council; it does not
appear that any opinion was request
ed; in fact, the mayor protein and
council did not have the case before
them until Mr.. Hoefiing appeared and
asked to be sworn in and commits
stoned.
But in advance the mayor pro tenn
and city council prepared themselves
to PREJUDICE the case and to resist the
decree of the court Of last resort. The
voting down of Alderman Beck
mann's motion TO seat Mr.. Hoefling
was an open, fragrant contempt of the,
court.
The mandate had not been served
when Mr.. BergstrOm wrote his famous
opinion setting aside the decision of
the supreme court. The opinion was
prepared to meet the emergency.
Mr.. Bergstrom is TOO good a lawyer,
not to know that the opinion he fur
nished was not only erroneous but RI
diculous; he also knew that he placed
himself in contempt of court, but he
was on the eve of departure for q
summer vacation, and thought he
could risk the consequences, while
the Callsghan aldermen were wrestls-
ing with the sheriff.
1t seems that the Mayor pro tenn
and city council have privately sub
mitted the decree of the supreme
court to one of our law firms to pass
upon is. This law firm don't do work
for nothing and the people must be
robbed to pay q lawyers bill because
the city attorney can't be relied on.
The truth is, all this appearance OF
caution and deliberation is for, the2
purpose of delay.
When the law firm employed by
the Callaghan ADMINISTRATION have
preme court. they should adopt AL
derman Lockwuod's suggestion and
hang out a sign Supreme Court DE-
cisions revised"
The matter is OF too serious import
ance to be trifled with. The absence
of Judge Noonan may be a fortunate
thing for the offenders as they may
retract and seat Mr.. Hoefiing at their
meeting tomorrow, and cave them
selves from punishment.
Already great damage has been
done the reputation of our city. Gov.
Hogg only needs an excuse to inter-
fere with the freedom of our commu-
nifty. The Callaghan administration q
has given him that excuse.
Every one who has read the
DRIVERS Reply" in yesterdays.
LIGHT, is convinced that the city has
been swindled in the fire alarm sys-.
tenn. The people will recollect that
public attention was called to the,
sham test made through Alderman
Lockwood's manipulation. The city
has paid the bill and the agent has
skipped home. Thus it is that the
peoples business is being turned into
schemes to fleece the city treasury.
The fire alarm job should be probed'
to the bottom, no matter who may be-
dug up from the mud that coversit.
The last grand jury got upon some
warm trails; it will prove disaster
to the public interests if the next
grand Jury SHOULD turn out to.be q.
conclave of white washers.
Spurgeon Getting Better.
LONDON, July 22.-Spurgeon is pro-
crossing satisfactorily toward recov-
cry, and congratulations pour in Oh
him from all quarters.
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