San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-09
O SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. SATURDAY. APRIL &c.
SHORT STOPS.
what the People are Saying.

SF1Srrt 81 -
what the People are Saying.
The people have become accustomed to
read Short Stops" they are on speaking,
familiar terms with what the people are
SAYING" they never get tired, or bored
with short sentences when some vital
question is discussed free from perSonali
ties or political rarcor.
The people find their own ideas ex-
pressed, their own arguments advanced
on all local topics: they feel conscious
OF friendly grasp of the hand from the
short stop writer.
If this bond proposition would advance
to their welfare. bring them any benefit
whatever, why should a voice be raised
against it.
The people are in favor of everything
that will help the city. But when it
comes to piling up a big bonded debt just
to make the city treasury flush with cash,
they can't see the benefit. The people
don't feel flush just now; times are hard
and everybody sees the necessity OF
economy.
The people have hearts, they love their
little chi,dren; they save money. deprive
themselves of many things to provide for
their future happiness: they have no idea
pOration. They think it well to make
permanent improvements, because by this
way the city can be made prosperous, and
attractive, but when it comes to making
bonded debt to pay policemen and ma
yor's salaries they naturally cay, 1t won't
do.
The people are not so innocent as not
to know that all the fine times the present
city administration has been having
spending money, has all to come out of
their pockets. They know all about the
mayors visit to Paree: the high old time
everybody has had around the city hall,
and now when the money gives out they
are called on to lend their sanction TO
big bonded debt to keep up the spree.
Oh, no, they can't see it.
must get along the best way they can for
few months until the people relieve
them. OF course il Mr.. Callaghan and his
nve dollar a meeting city councilc ant
stand it, let them resign, the people will
only be too happy to have them do so.
The city will stand: the people will be
here to take care of 1t. no matter what
may happen to our city servants; the
kitchen will be swept, the stove will burn,
and the hotel will feed its guests, bonds
or no bonds.
The people were astOnished the other
day at the petition of number of worthy
business men, asking the mayor to in
crease the police force because of the
great number OF fires. Everybody knows
that this would result in nothing but q
good excuse to put a lot of electioneers at
work to carry the bond question. In the
good old days of the volunteer fire de-
partment, there happened one or two eX
ira fires, and a patrol OF 100 reliable citi-
zenS was organized without expense TO
the taxpayers.
Has the day come when the common
good and the common safety must be
trusted to the picked pets of u political
city ring. Every man added TO the force
of an incompetent administration only
adds to its inefficiency, and adds to the
burdens of the taxpayer.
Why didn't Mr.. Callaghan and Alder
man Lockwood think of increasing the
police force, il it was proper precaution;
oh no, they waited for somebody To sug-
gest it and then they jumped at it like
duck at Junebug. 1t was first what
they were aching to do If they only had a
little excuse to doit.
They ought to have considered the re-
quest to increase the police force: the big
expense: the fact that the city was out of
funds: wanted to borrow money on bonds
to pay daily expenses, etc and then sug-
geste0 to Col. Breckenridge that he or
ganiZed citizens night patrol to catch
the fire bug. That would have been con-
Sstent, but, oh no. increase the police
force, the tax payers will have to foot the
bill and IL will be another reason for
voting for the bonds.
One good detective would do more than
one hundred extra police towards catch
ing the sire bug if there is one. A
searching investigation of some of our
fires would do an immense good. But
adding TO our police force is simply a
waste of money and farce.
Put out the bond question on the 10th,
and if necessary let the people meet in
mass meeting aud take charge of the fire
questions.
When Mr.. Callaghan kicked out the
volunteer fire department he brought debt
and disaster to our city: he did it because
he could not make the VOLUNTEER firemen
his nOlitical slaves This is tho truth and