San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-06
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying

What the People are Saying
The calling attention to the published
financial statements made by the city &C
counting officers, is awakening the people
TO a very important matter.
| A good many of our citizens have beer
trying If they can understand these state
ments, and particularly the last one.
The two totals under the headings
Public improvements contingencies
and CONTINGENCIES" foot up sl5l, ASS. 90:
THIS Is inst as il appears in the official
org 40. Now Ih.S is a sample mix-up that
Oily can be unraveled by an expert.
The Sl45, 1874 footing up at the end of
the contingencies" is the total of all the
expense under head of general fund, sala-
rieS, police, health, hospital, pest house,
fire department, printing, pound, miscel-
laneous, parks, gas, water, roller repairs,
and contingencies. But how can you ex-
pect the people to spend their time tigur-
Ing TO find out the mistakes made by the
city accountants or the city organ.
Now. this statement has some very Sus-
plSAONC lOoh uuOut u - u NlS AAS"N "a
Expenditures the items look all
straight and easily understood until we
getdown tO"Pu6lic Improvement Contin-
gencieS," from this point on to the reca-
pitulation there is an evident appearance
of jugglery.
For instance, there is an item that oc-
ours several times, by general transfer
fund, by special transfer fund, these
items should be set forth with some kind
of explanation. Now if the people can't
be furnished with a plain statement OF
the city finances that they can UNDER
stand and that the newspapers can east
ly explain, what is the use of paying out
money for these publications.
Auditor Cohen will make the next
statement; he is known to be an ac-
complished accountant, and the people
have a right to expect that he will eXer-
else his ability to make such a plain state
ment that he who runs may read.
One of the few flags displayed from
buildings Saturday was upside down.
The fact is, there is a wOful lack OF public
spirit among our patriotic citizens, so far
as flags are concerned. Every true Amer
lean who can afford it should have an
American flag and display it from his
house top, on the 4th of July.
D.
Then, people would become accustomed
to seeing the national emblem, and I'M
derStand how it should be displayed.
1t is not a lack of patriotism on the
part of the native born Americans that
causes the glorious 4th to go by default,
but lack Of a proper appreciation OF the
Importance Of the nations holiday.
Be it said to the honor and credit OF
our German Americans that a Antonio
owes il to them that the day did not go
by entirely unnoticed.
People that go fishing, picnicking and
upon other frivolous junketings, so as TO
pass the time, are fast losing that proud
and patriotic sentiment that should
animate the breastpf every American.
Patriotism pays. 1t is the nations
bulwark in war; its stability in peace.
X
Texas on Wheels is the latest scheme
to find employment for a few advertising
uTummeTS.
This manner of advertising has been
used by the fruit grOwerS of California
with success, but it is very questionable
if it would pan out well for Texas.
With Dick Hubbard as orator, it would
be a sort of real estate salvation army,
and would draw the small boys and loaf
erS around the railroad stations. But it
would be looked at by sensible, cOnserva-
tive people with suspicion.
The cheap railroad rates would induce
a lot of people to take an excursion to
Texas, where they would find a big differ
ence between the real thing and Dick
Hubbard's picture Of it.
The Worlds fair is the place to show
Tayas off 70 ahynntaua As m aHVartiS-