San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-11-02

Inc people are becoming anxious
over the outlook of our city gov
eminent, they cannot understand
the delay in pushing forward tn,
important propositions to secure
waterworks, public ownership o
the electric lights and sewerage.
The new deal with the water
works company is watched with
grave fears that the hands of the
people will be tied in some way sc
as to prevent public ownership.
The enormous tax imposed upon
the people for water for private
consumption, of water and light
without taking into account the
large amount paid for fire purposes,
and street lights, must keep our
city impoverished.
Next to air, nothing should be
so cheap as water; yet it is lux
ury that comes high. Our people
pay as much for these two public
necessities as they do to sustain
the entire machinery of the city
government. Take the amount
paid by the corporation and add to
1t the amount paid by private con-
sumers, and the total will be as
great as the city expenditures, less
the amount paid by the city for
light and water.
The fact that the city council
lately declared that there was no
legal contract with the Water
Works company was so quietly
in by the Water Works
that it now occurs that |
it was all for the purpose of secur-
ing new contract.
The important feature of the
new contract to the Water Works |
is an extension OF their
franchise for twenty-five years.
The Water Works company
Gould well afford to reduce rates,
n order to secure a twenty-fiVe
ears lease upon the city.
The city council should never
consent to a longer contract than
wo years, if it comes to a new
leal.
1t would be an objectionable
outrage to tie the hands of our citi-
ems for another quarter of a CEN
ury, and make them servants to
n overbearing monopoly.
1t would cut off the hope of the
'eople to own their water supply;I
o have sewerage; in fact, our good
ity would be burdened with a
Dad to heavy to endure.
1t is lamentable that private
reed and corporate greed seems to
ave killed out the patriotism and
'ublic spirit of our monied men.
t is the conservative, hard work
ng taxpayers of our city who
must assert their right to curb this
reed, and demand public owner
hip of our public works.
1t is the many against the few,
the people against the monopoly.
t is the demand that the govern
nent must be for the people and
o conducted as to supply the pub
ic necessities at cost.
If we have no contract with the
Water Works company, then the
Water Works company has no
from the city, and for
he privilege of collecting water
ents, the use of the streets ETC.,
he city can dictate it's own terms,
md fix the limit of the new con-
ract. In fact the city can collect
rom the Water Works company
ent, instead of paying rent.
1t is not possible that Mayor
oaschal and the council are going
% be bamboozeled and tricked in
% a new contract with any condf-
ions that will tie the hands of the
people.
Remember, gentlemen, in twen-
jy-five years, you will all be enjoy
ng your eternal rest, but the soul
ess corporation will still be grind
ng the face of the poor and exact
It's tribute from the people.
Do something now, for the relief
If the present generation.