San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-10-29

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than originally contracted for, while
in every department expense after ex-
pense has been added. The assess
ments OF the property owners have
been raised in order to Increase the
tax burdens; funds voted by the peo-
pie have been devisted from their
peared, notably the garbage furnace
fund. The city has been q monthly
borrower from one of our banks, at q
high rate of interest, to meet current
expenses, and in addition to this there
have been submitted two bond prop
sitions, one involving two million
dollars and one $3.50, 900, which for
tunateIy the Taxpayers voted down.
No heed has been paid to the strin-
| gency OF the times, or any effort made
to retrench or economic. public ex-
penditures. The mayor has spent q
large portion of his official life in
| junketing abroad, leaving his Office
to the management of deputy, there.
by neglecting the public interests;
this has been q notorious scandal.
| THE FALLING OF THE GRAND JURY.
A grand jury, composed of good cit
| liens, In pursuance of their sworn
the affairs of the city; the result
was the finding of indictments
against Mayor Callaghan for the mis-
appropriation of public funds, having
paid himself the salary as mayor, the
same salary being drawn by his depu-
ty. Other officials were indicted for
felonies. This grand jury also looked
into the county affairs and brought
In Iafn mt fu off ioI
who was displaced from office. In
the midst of their official business
they were ruthlessly brought before
Judge King and cast into the county
jail for contempt A thing unheard
people rose, every good citizen felt
that his liberty, the sanctity of the
laws, the veal of the community was
in danger; mob violence was averted
by the wise and patient bearing of
these twelve men, who bore the in
dignity they were subjected to until
the highest court OF the state ordered
their release. The imprisonment of the
grand jury was but part of the bold,
high. handed conspiracy of the office
holders trust. to prevent even the
courts from bringing them to account
ability. The indictments found by |
that grand jury are still pending and
Bryan Callaghan has the audacity to |
ask the people to elect him to the i'm
portsnt office of county and probate |
judge. Can the people stand this?
A succeeding grand jury found in
dictments against the county judge, |
county commissioners and county |
assessor tor misappllcation of
pu bile funds. Their cases were rushed
TO trial; the case against the asses
sor was dismissed with the UNDER
standing that he should return the
money he had received, (hss he re-
turned it?) The county judge and
commissioners were acquitted on the
plea of ignorance of the law. This
ought to be sufficient to put an end to
their official careers.
THE COUNTY JOB.
The taxpayers of our county have
before them the contemplation of q
gigan tic job in the erection Of q new
court house. Already $3.50, 900 bond
ed Indebtedness has been created for
this job, and we'll informed persons
declare that it will require q SINH
lar sum to finish the building.
Every step, every contract, and
piece OF work, done on this job, has
been reckless of the interests of the
public and tinged with corruption.
This is evidently the plum in sight.
In the conduct Of the public work
on our county roads the money of the
people has been wasted, and every
expenditure has been made to secure
votes for those in Office.
WHY TURN OUT OLD AND TRUE Of
FICIALS.
The only plea that will be put up
is why should the people turn out old
officers and put in new men. The
offices belong to the people and not to
ali official clique. A crisis has arisen
in our affairs when for the public
good it Is necessary to change the
servants in charge of our affairs. Our
public offices are all of q character
that the duties can be we'll and eff.
ciently performed by intelligent men.
This must be so, or else our public
business would be in danger of being |
brought to q etandstill by the death
or displacement of officials. Every
intelligent citizen knows this to be
so. The men in Office, many of them
at least, have become sff1uent, even |
county commissioners, who only re,
ceive q psltry salary; and |
for this reason it is time |
they were retired. 1t is not
the policy of our institutions to J
build up a wealthy class of office |
holders. Our county affairs need |
thorough looking into, and this can
not be done If the present administra-
ton is continued. But in this con-
nection, we desire to draw attention |
to the county judgeship. Judge Nc
Allister has been set aside by his fell |
low office. holders and, In his place, it |
is proposed to elect the arrogant |
mayor of our city; it is place involv-
ing the most sacred interests of our |