San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-11

Our CHdrUeT 10 puhuio VI
rags ~ says Alderman Beckmann.
In what respect is it ga bundle OF
rags ?" Point out single rag.
The charter creates the Office of
alderman, and confers upon that
office the power of legislating for
the city. Is this one of its rags
The charter creates all the in
habitants of the city body cor
porate and polite with ample
powers to carry on a municipal
government. Is this one of the
rags?
''To make contracts and do all
other acts in relation to the prop
erty and concerns of the city neces-
sary to the exercise of its corporate
or administrative powers" Is
this one OF the bundle of rags?
1t provides for the election of
mayor, aldermen and other officers.
Is this a rag?
1t provides for vacancies in
office so that there cannot be a
lapse in the business Of the corpor-
alton. Another rag.
1t provides that "the city coun-
Gil shall have the care and control
of the city and it's property and
finances, and shall have power to
enact and ordain any and all
ordinances not repugnant to the
constitution and laws of this state,
and such ordinances to alter,
nullify or repeal" and shall spe-
cially have powers ''to borrow
money on the credit of the city,"
On this rag depends our whole fin
ancial soundness.
ITO appropriate and provide for
the payment of the debts of the
city," A rag that answers to the
balloon sail on the Defender.
In consecutive order there are
80 rags in the bundle that covers
every possible want and necessity
for the city's benefit and welfare,
not one of which could be well left
out.
1t sets forth the powers of the
mayor, without which he would
only be a knot on a log. Another
rag.
1t cOnfers OH the recorder the
authority of a Justice of the Peace
to try offences against the city
ordinances without this, we would
have no use for a police force, or
for ordinances enforcing peace and
quieting the community. Another
rag.
1t confers the power to levy and
collect taxes, the highest and most
function of govern
ment. Another of Beckmann's
rags.
In fact, a careful and impartial
reading of the city charter will
convince any sensible man that it
would be hard to improve very eX-
tensively upon it, unless the en-
tire system of municipal govern
ment is altered.
If the city charter is a 'Ebundle
of rags it has been made so by
the violent and slovenly habits of
those who have had its enforce
ment in charge.
The "rag" that caused all this
TRADE against the charter is sec.
246: 'sThat no member of the City
Council shall hold any office or en-
ployment under the city govern
ment while he is a member of said
City Council, unless herein other
wise provided, and no member of
said City Council, or any officer of
the corporation, shall be directly
or indirectly interested in any
work, business or contract, the ex-
pense, price or consideration of
which is paid from the city treas
ury."
Sec. 246 is the bulwark of the
city government. If it has been
torn into shreds and hung up like
tattered banner in the Council
room so much the worse for the
good city of San Antonio. Once
that the restraint upon greed and
self-interest is removed, corrup-
ton and crime creeps into the
doors of the public temples, and