San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-12-31


ent city administration has been
defended and approved.
The victory at the ballot box
voting the bonds, was the closing
scene in the official career of the
late Mayor Paschal. The great
work, so long demanded, and so
urgently needed, was now assured.
1t is the deepest regret Of the
people VINO ranged themselves
with Mr.. Paschal that he died be-
fore the sewer work could be COM
pleted, and there is today strong,
Overpowering sentiment in favor
Of continuing the Paschal admin
istration, as it was left by him in
succession of Mr.. Elmendorf, who
stood next to him, so that there
shall be no failure to carry out the
work begun.
The sewer enterprise has passed
through several important stages,
the discussion needed to inform
the public,--the struggle against
the opposition Of the Paschal ad-
ministration, headed by Mr.. Gala
ghan-the campaign for the bonds
in which every detail Of the enter
prise was given to the people-the
taxpayers election.
The letting the contract is the
next important chapter to be closed.
The advertisement for bids brought
to our city large number of bid
ders from abroad, and the sharp
competition has been shown in the
bids that 60 far below the estimate
OF Engineer Gray.
There has been a good deal of |
politics mixed up in this bidding-I
the opposition to the present city |
administration has been under |
stood as conspiring with home bid
ders with the evident purpose of
bargaining in advance for political
support.
Competent and careful judges OF
the work to be done declare that it
would be hazardous to let the con-
tract for the whole system for less /
than $4,000.
AS rule the low bidder should
have the preference, but the city
should be careful not to jeopardize
the work by prospective failure
on the part of the contractor, mol
matter how good his bond, as no
bond would compensate the city
for the damage done.
The people have in mind the ex-
perjence of the past administration
the city hall is monument to low
bidding on public work-the con.
tractor failed-the city undertook
to finish the building which cost
$4,000 more than the original con-
tract price.
The contractors bond for the
city hall was considered a good
one it contained the names Of four
well known citizens, but it has
never been heard from since the
day the city undertook to finish
the building.
The beautiful new county court
house, still unfinished, that the
architect assured the county COM
missiOners could be built for $780,
600 has already cost nearly double
that amount.
The sewer job should be let to a
responsible bidder for a sum with
in the reasonable calculation of |
the supervising engineer,-the
contractor should not only have
financial backing but practical ex-
perience in this class of work; he |
should be able to pay fair wage
to laboring men, and have a rea-
sonable margin of profit for his
work.
1t would be calamity to have
failure stamped upon the enter
prise at this critical stage of the |
proceedings, and it behooves the |
city administration to be exceed |
ingly careful in its decision.
THE LARGEST ASSORTMENT.
Blank books and account books |
of all descriptions at Kypfer & !
Seng's. y 81 ct
Will Call Tomorrow.