San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-19
SHORT STOPS.
what the people are Saying.

SHORT SIOtS.
What the People are Saying.
The Importance Of registering is being
impressed upon our best citizens and be-
fore the time Is up, Wednesday the 25th
inst. there will be few good voters left out,
still! there are two thousand unregistered.
There remains but twenty-four days
before the election; the people have
ample time to make up their minds as to
who will best serve them as officials.
Every good citizen is fully impressed
with the necessity for change in the
manage ment OF the business of our city in
order that the taxpayers will be willing to
bear the burden OF the expense to main
tain government, or promote public i'm.
pToyements.
A prud ent, ecor omical administration
will restore public confidence, and en-
courage the people to vote for needed APP
preparations.
Much mischief can be accomplish, d
during the remaining days of the expir-
ing city council. II these gentlemen had
any regard for public opinion they would
attempt no further legislation, such as
granting extensive franchises to street
railroad and venturing upon new enter
priSeS.
Let new council come In before the
city is tied hand and foot and given away
to grasping monOpolieS. Every grant Of
a franchise for street railway over our
narrow streets operates as monopoly, as
but one line can be bnilt upon them.
The giving away these franchises with
ont restrictions is inflicting future injury
upon the city. Not another franchise
should be given away: there should be
valuable consideration exacted.
When the first franchise was granted it
was for the consideration of certain per
cent of the earnings of the company.
This provision was repealed, had it been
retained, a sufficient revenue would have
been realized to keep the streets in repair
without drawing so heavily upon the city
treasury.
Afterwards Col. BeIknap offered to
,build all extensions demanded and pay
per cent of the gross earnings of such eX-
tensions, but the city council did not take
a business view of the matter: they just
became very liberal with the peoples
property and gave i. away,
There should be some little Judgment
used in granting omnibus franchises. The
day is coming when the injury Of grant
ing street railroad franchises over every
street approaching the business center
will be apparent.
II these franchises are given away there
should be condition that the city could
at any time upon the petition of major
ity OF taxpayers upon any street compel
the removal OF any street railway,
or when such railways become
nuisance, dangerous to life and prop
erty, or seriously interfering with the traf-
tic and travel of the public.
1t is an outrage that our property
owners and taxpayers are compelled to
pay for the widening of streets simply to
accommodate street railways. There. is
not a street in the city that is not ample
for the business and convenience of the
people If not occupied by street railways.
Our streets have been ruined and dis
figured TO accommodate street car lines,
and telephone lines. 1t is high time we
had an administration that will look to
the rights and benefits of the people.