San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-28
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying.


1t was thought that when the city
auditor took charge of the book keeping
department of the city that the financial
statement would be made more Ineligible
and explicit, but the statements are grow
ing worse; the last one published being as
| clear as mud.
The ''recapituiation" as first published,
had the debts and credits all run in to-
gether, but this looked so bad that the
report was repaired to some extent and
given another publication in the Express.
OHow do we stand now, is the public in
qulry. Passing over the mixed up multi
tudinous account until we get to the re-
yised ''recapitulatiOn," according to
which the treasurer should have on hand
in hard, tangible cash S145,6lS 81. But,
He states that he has only balance"
of $40, 2O4.53. To account for this deficit
two items are given to-wit: S21, 1884
overdrawn on account of the general
fund" and S3i,22O.5O paid out for city
hall, ETC."
In palmer terms, the city treasurer has
paid out $50, 413.S4 that belonged to other
funds leaving them short that amount.
The questions arise, what sacred fund"
remains intact in the Treasurer's hands:
are we paying interest on this S55, 4l3.S4.
1t would appear that during the quar-
ter we borrowed on notes from the ;: A.
National bank, in June, $4,000, July,
$4,000, August, $4,000, on account of the
general fund, which notes were discounted
by the bank, that is the city was Dor
rover to the amount of $4,000 during the
quarter.
And while we became a borrower. we
had in the banks, or should have Sl45,-
6lS.37, but then this amount is not there,
because the general fund" and the ''city
hall. ETC. fnnd have been Overdrawn,
and there is only S9O,2O4.53 on hand.
We paid during the quarter, according
to the statement of our treasures, SlOO.OOO
principal on eight notes made in 1890, and
S5,11O.Ol interest on these notes.
1t doesn't take a very talented taxpayer
to understand that from this statement OF
borrowing money from the bank, paying
interest, and borrowing money on bonds,
paying interest; Overdrawing the account
OF certain funds, etc, we are conducting
one of the most ridiculOuSly eXtravagant
municipal business concerns to be found
anywhere in the world.
There is so much in this statement that
needs ventilation, tavOring of eXtrava-
gance and waste, that the spirit becomes
weary in contemplating the task.
The S25. 900 garbage furnace fund seems
to have slipped completely out of sight.
Was it all absorbed in paying the EXPENSES
of the smelling committee sent to different
states and countries to investigate the
subject.
Is there never any rent collected for
the city building occupied by the S.A. EX-
press. The bill for insurance is given
under head of contingencies.
The people must not become discouraged
because they can't understand these
financial statements: it's very doubtful If
a single member of the city council can
explain them.
Changing the subject slightly from one
unsightly object to another; the new city
hall is likely TO be condemned as public
nuisance, in consequence OF there being
no sewer drain from the basement Oc-
cupied as city prison. just think of it
great big S2Oj,G)O public building with
out provision for an escape for smoke
from the root, no sewerage from the
basement. Its horribe,-itS rotten.
X 4
A prudent tax payer suggests utilizing
the side walk inspectors, and sanitary
officers and sanitary officers. who
seem to be administration supertluitieS,
to keep the place policed until a sewer
system can be devised.