San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-02-27
CITY INFRINGEMENT.
How This Can Well be Done With
out lmparIng EfiCte ncy.


Now that Mayor Paschal is to take
administrative charge OF the city and has
publicly intimated a policy Of efficient
economy it is not impertinent to consider
the ways and mean whereby his desire
able policy can be well established.
In the outgoing administration there
are few city departments il any in which
there has been greater extravaganza
than in the city clerks Office. Although
the bulk of the city clerks work, the ac-
counts have been taken from him by
transfer TO the auditors office, he has
now an assistant, two male clerks and a
lady clerk. In other words there are five
to DO the work that three recently did
before work was taken from them that
now requires two men to do. The mayor
used to tell the city clerk he had nothing
TO do. This may have been his little
joke but many a true word is said in a
jest.
There is too an assistant city physician
who was appointed for the sole purposes
OF carrying out the provisions OF the
bawd ordinance. That was declared in
valid and abandoned but still the asSis-
tant city physician is retained and paid
h S salary.
OMany people think, and as | believe,
that some economic reforms could be
made In the police department. There is
now a city marshal and TWO assistants.
Some people think that the marshal
should take dav duty, which is not oner-
Gus and which he used TO do, and one as
slStant marshal the night duty, and that
the other marshal should be dropped as
the third wheel TO a two wheeled cart.
1t is true that the chief marshal might
not be able to Indulge in so many fishing
or hunting excursions but there Is no
doubt he could do his duty and save the
expense of the otherwise ornamental
third marshal. Then much Of the work
done by the sanitary inspectors could be
as well, II not more promptly, done by the
! regular police and if necessary the or
namentals Of the sanitary department
could be utilized In strengthening 1t and
making the police service more efficient.
In any case the sanitary police system is
an expensive farce and should be remod-
eled. There are grave doubts, II not one
or two alleged detectives could not do the
work Of that department without the as
| siStance of the third who practically
helps the others to do nothing.
Now there is the fire department., 1t
has cost a heap of money and
certainly makes a most creditable show
ing, but the question Is, can 1t
not be worked in a more economical way
without impairing its efficiency? Mr..
Ducrler, the old and experienced ex-tre
chief, has said that the department can
Ub "OI htu d. GlllCltulIN duu ldI IuO' WV
nOm'cally. 1t is true that some tremen,
and those who seek to succeed them, are
opposed to the plan, but why, simply be-
cauSe 1T cuts off some heads that can well
be spared. Mr.. Duerler proposes to keep
at all fire stations enough regular men to
man and work the engines, hose cats, etc,
and instead OF keeping and paying a lot
of drOneS for occasional uSa he will have a
list of SuUernumerary men who shall
work qt NJ hnr trnHnS and plllinUS in the
day time. but at night, when the vast pro-
portion of fires occur, shall sleep and lodge
at their assigned fire station and shall be
amenable for necessary drills II ac-
tive fire service when called upon.
DueriCr'S proposition is reasonable and
practical and while many would like to
see the fire department remain intact cir
cumstanCcS in this, as in other cases must
rule FOR the public good.
The street commissioners department,
the cart system and other ~eXtravagant
points must be carefully watched ana
will doubtless be So. In these business
principles, and not favOritiSm must rule
The city has a right to expect a dollars
worth Of service, labor or material for
every dollar it eXpendS and this
doubtless be justly and fairly demanded
in all cases.
Mr.. PaSchal has shown that he ~rcaliScS
this and proposes to run the city upon a
purely business basis-thc only principle
upon good government can be conducted.
1t means necessary reduction, the abOll-
ton of SinicurcS. the dropping OF Orna
mental nOnentiticS and a strict cXaCtiOn
of duty on the part of all, but it also
means an economic administration, an
exemption from unnecessary taxation ard
a honest and prompt p~aymcntOf the city's
obligation. In these things will our city
be hOnOred and our property assured
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