San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-10
Sewer farm purchase was con-
firmed by passage of ordinance.

The adoption of the sewer COM
mittee's majority and minority re-
ports on the Kuefner matter then
came up and occupied the atten-
ton OF the council for long time.
The recommendation in the minor
ity report "that Kuefner be dis
charged" was struck out, and the
minority report was adopted.
The mayor brought up the ques-
ton of poor brick being used In the
sewer manholes on Centre and
Santa Clara streets, and Robards
produced some of the brick, but
could not prove they were rejected
or accepted ones. They were of the
very poorest quality. The engi-
neer said they were rejected brick.
A long discussion of the quality
oil brick followed and the matter
was finally referred to the public
improvement committee, which is
acting in place Of the resigned
sewer committee.
Alderman Mackey made a
warm speech against this
construction of the section by the
attorney and contended that city
officials had a right to bid Gin open
market" on city contracts, etc.
In his speech he charged that
Mr.. Robards hac been connected
with a firm In dealing with the
city and had, as a member Of the
finance committee, approved an
account of said firm or company
against the city.
This Mr.. Richards denied and
challenged Mr.. Mackey for the
proof. This the gentleman pro.
duced and read warrant No. 81,
for F. F. Collins manufacturing
company for material furnished on
the sewers, and approved by Mr..
Robards. He charged that Mr..
Richards had held stock in this
company at the time. Mr.. Robards
said he had held stock in the COM
pany but had disposed of it as soon
as Mr.. Collins had returned from
his trip this sum mer.
Alderman Mackey then charged
that Mr.. Robards had held stock
in the Guarantee company which
had contract with the city.
Mr.. Robards said he had can
celled this stock, also.
Mackey then said 1t was very
strange il man would make a
present of $1,000 stock TO a COM
pany he would not retain its good
will. A present given might mean
a present in return some time,
Capt. Mackey insinuated.
This at length incensed the cool
and collected chairman of the
finance committee and he arose in
dignantly, and as the mayor raped
Alderman Mackey to order, Mr..
Robards exclaimed that Mr..
Mackey was presuming a little too
much on his gray hairs to insult
him.
"No d--n man can bluff me %
shouted Alderman Mackey. "Don't
let my gray hairs stop you! 1 am
here to defend myself. 1 won't
stand this thing and I want to let
you know 1t. You may have a re-
volver In your hand and another in
your pocket, but you can't bluff
mew
The mayors gavel was rapping
loudly by this time and when AL
derman Devine arose he said that
all this talk was highly improper.
He could not interpret the section
of the charter in any other
way than did Mr.. Richards.
He was interrupted by Mr..
Mackey, who told him he did not
want any instructions from him.
"You look after yourself. I'll look
after myself, though L hope We'll
be friendly, Mr.. Devine."
Beckmann proposed that legal
test OF the question be made in a
friendly suit before the courts in
order to get court decision on it.
The attorneys opinion is not a
court decision. The way things
were going these matters were be-
ing used by the papers to make an
alderman's life miserable--a veri-
table hell, and friendly suit
would settle it.
Devine construed the section
literally, but would personally con-
tribute to the fund to test the mat
ter.
DRESS said he was a member of
the San Antonio Drug company,
but would not be the cause OF his
partners losing contracts OF profit
by his being an alderman, under
such construction of the charter.
He wanted the case tested.
Beckman-uOur charter is bun.
die Of ragsv'
The question was finally put on