San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-11
THE BOND PROPOSITION.

discussed Dy CiIiZen TAXPAYER.
Editor DAILY LIGHT:
Although q great deal has been
said, TO show the necessity OF voting
against the proposition to issue bonds
for general expenses, there are still
some points to be considered. There
is first and foremost one thing the
average taxpayer should rid himself
of, aud that Is the idea, that the city
is something distinct and separate
with which the taxpayers has
nothing to do, but growl 1T during
taxpaying time 1t lie high time the
taxpayer shonld bring himself to
called the City of San Antonio, and Is
very often not simply interested to the
extent of the amount of taxes hepays
The argument chiefly used to trick
the small taxpayer into vot
ing TOR bonds Is TO figure
for them, that financially the
matter to them is tr fling They
would like them to overlook, that il
they look upon this city as their
home, they are interested in the wei.
fare Of the community now and in
the future, as their own well.d oing Is
indissOluble linked with the same,
and all must stand or fall together.
Let the small taxpayer, socalled,
ponder upon this for Q moment and he
will not fail to SEQ where his inter est
lies. 1t is too true, that like the
Grippe, a mania to live beyond oue'e
means has pervaded civilized society,
and to meet the extravaganza borrow
Ing lie resorted to. But the large
number OF business failures have
every thinking mind that Dor.
rowing, like taking physics, should
only be Escorted TO in extreme cases
Now let US make the application
Our city needed good streets, which
could not be put down fast enough
for its uDususl growth, from the year
ly tax receipts, without making them
too onerous. This was al emergency,
and extraordinary measures were In
order. CheerfulIy did the citizens
take upon themselves q debt
of over a million, and should
another such emergency arrive
they would again come to the
front. But in the present case, even
the advocates of the measure claim
no such emergency. The admins.
tration party merely claim that had
they more money they could do more
work. That is certainly proposition
no one can deny, but is 1t good
reason to increase the bonded debt
two hundred and fifty Thousand
Already the yearly interest together
with the sinking fund amounts to
hnnIrad fhnnoond Anl1a
Continue borrowing and as the
amount Of sinking fund and interest
increases the annual amount left fol-
cur rent expenses decreases. Thus
taxes must either be continually raised
orborrowing must again be resorted tt
for improvements. and so on, until the
end comes, which would:not be very
far of, and the city would be bank
rupt. Then when the citizen walk.
the fine streets, admires the beauty o.
the city hall, sees the fire depart
ment in all its glory, and crosses
those expensive bridges, with
handsome patrolmen posing against
the ratings, will not his
heart swell with pride when
he remembers that ne got
all those costly things by repudia.
ton. Men generally exact strict
account of what their employees de
for them, why should the employees O.
a corporation, be exempt, aud by
employ es 1 mean everyone drawing
money for his services from the city
treasury, from his Honor the Mayor
down to the dog catchers, for thini
that way the scale of wages run
They should make their statement 81
that no controversy as to their mean
ing and import could arise, If BY
some oversight or misinformation Of
wrong conclusions too much was paiC
for an article or articles or improve
ments of one kind or another the