San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-01-23
WELL POSTED,
For a Stranger, Don't You Thin k
SOP
To the DAILY LIGHT:


SOP
To the DAILY LIGHT:
Being a resident OF the city, but
not citizen eligible to vote, |
think l can give my opinion on
the coming city election for the re-
sponsible position Of mayor, with
out any prejudice. In casting their
votes | should think that all tax
paying citizens should look into
both sides thoroughly before de-
Gliding. During the past admins
tration Of Bryan Callaghan there
was no doubt a great amount OF
money expended and a great many
mprovements made; but at the
same time it should be taken into
consideration that the city was left
in an awful financial condition
when the late Geo. Paschal took
hold of things. To show how
things were run during Bryan Cal
laghan's rule the first thing to lock
into is the condition the audi
tors books were left in, not
having been even balanced
for a great length of time. If in
any business the books should not
have been posted for even one week
any business would say that this
business was greatly mismanaged.
Also look at the tax lists and you
will find that in great many in
stances taxes have not been paid
for the past twenty years, and still
no action was made to have these
delinquents settle. A very queer
thing to me, and which l am too
stupid to understand is, that Mr..
Callaghan should give up his pre-
sent position as county judge at a
salary of from six to seven thou
sand per year for that OF mayor
which only pays three thousar d
per year; ii Bryan Callaghan was
a man of money could easily I'M
derstand this; but as Mr.. Cal
laghan has not had a sutfici-
ent income to pay his
taxes for the past fourteen
years / cannot see why he should
prefer the position OF mayor. 1t
also seems to me that the mayor,
who is at the head of the people
should be an example to the rest,
but think it very poor example
that the manager Of all municipal
affairs, and who holds his position
through the payment Of taxes by
the citizens should be delinquent
on the tax list for fourteen years.
At the same time it must be taken
into consideration that during Mr..
Callaghan's administration he
greatly encouraged corporations to
increase their business, which has
been of great value to all citizens
as far as public Improvements arr
concerned a.; but at the same tin e
from comparison to what Oth-Ie
are paying for water and gas etc,
it seems that the then existing cor
porations were greatly overcharg-
ing the people for services render
ed.
In regard to the present admins
tration, will say that as far as the
laboring men are concerned, and
the middle classes, same has and
will continue to be, il elected Of
great benefit to them. In the first
place it was through the present
administration that the Water
works Co. and San Antonio Gas and
Electric Co. were made to reduce
their rates; also the building OF
sewers for this city, to which Bry-
an Callaghan was at first very much
opposed, will give the labOring men
work for many months, and circu-
late great deal Of money amongst
the citizens. II there is any
one to be benefited by the
present city administration it
certainly is the working man.
In regard to Mr.. Oscar Berg
strom's speech the other night at
Mission Garden, he says that all
the picks and shovels used for re-
pairing the streets at present were
bought at Henry Elmendorf's store.
In reply to this Mr.. Elmendorf
states that during the past admin
istration he could not have given
the city credit for same; but now
that the city is in a better tinan-
cial condition he does not object to
letting the city have same on
credit. Mr.. ElmendOrf has been
citizen here for great many years
and during this time has worked
up one OF the largest hardware
houses in this city; and during
these years it cannot be said that
he has ever been concerned in
dishonest transaction. IL the city
wishes to buy their picks,
etc, from Elmendorf & Co. at
the same prices as they can
get same from other business
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