San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-05
GALL FOR PROOF.
Give the Kickers and Disappointed
Place Hunters a Chance
TO Explain.


TO Explain,
(By the writer Of Contributed Scraps.)
The most effectual way in the
world of closing the mouths of
soreheaded fault-finders, is to get
them to make specific charges and
then to invited them to prove
them. They usually are impeiIed
either by ignorance, or prejudice
to find fault with the construction
of all public works, and never
can support their charges by evil
dence.
The so.called citizens meeting
through its committee has made
and filed specific objections to the
manner in which some part Of the
work on the sewers, has been exc
cuted, and, by so doing, has afford.
ed the Council an opportunity for
investigating the matter.
1t is due both to the city authori-
ties and to the public, that these
specific charges should be
thoroughly sifted and examined.
The burthen OF proving them to be
true, rests on the authors OF these
specific charges. Should the evil
dence that may be adduced 90
to the extent of proving the charges
to be true, viz: That work has
been executed in violation of the
terms and specifications of the con-
tract, then it will become the duty
of the Council to dismiss the in.
spectors who permitted the defec-
tive work to be done. This is also
due to the Council and the public.
1t is reported that none of the
committee that brought forward
these specific charges are, in any
respect, experts in sewer construc-
ton, or ever had any experience in
that line Of business. They are
mere greenhorns and novices in
that sort of work. Such novices
are sure to stumble on mares
nest at every turn.
By all means, let the council call
on Mr.. Braden and his his com.
mittee to make good aud prove
their specific charges. and give
them ample opportunity to do so.
That is the only proper way of
meeting such specific charges, and
it will cork up those who hazard
such charges, in absence of evil
dence to support them.
General and vague charges
deserve no attention, or considera-
ton either from the public, or
from public officers. But when
ever specific charges are made.
they should be thoroughly sifted
and examined for in such a case
issue can be joined and the
specific charges can be either prov
ed, or disprOved.
San Antonio has a full comple-
ment of chonic fault-findners and
kickers, and this class seems to be
making this tempest in a teapot"
concerning the sewers. 1t is proba-
BILE that they cannot help snarling
and growing, plunging and kick.
ing as they have an innate and in
corrigible proclivity, for fault find
ing and growing.
Perhaps, they were reared on
gall, wormwood and crab apples,
in their childhood and thereby had
the ill-luck Of having their taste
perverted and their minds iaun-
diced.
1t would be a first-class blessing
to San Antonio to have the mouths
OF the GROWERS and kickers in her
midst closed and Theoretically
sealed by calling on them to sub
stantiate by credible witnesses. the
specific charges now made. The
growler and the kicker, generally
confines himself to vague, indefi-
mite and general charges, because
they afford a loop hole for escape.
Were the authors Of the specific
charges, that work of a defective
character has been done on the
sewers, experts and veterans in the
matter OF sewer construction, the
charge would be grave one. But
no such veterans and experts are on
the committee. On the contrary
they are all greenhorns and novices,
and for that reason, very likely, to
have been incubating the eggs in a
mares nest. -.
Practical knowledge and exper-
fence Of sewer works, renders one
an expert, and the want of them
stamp one as a greenhorn and a
novice.
The committee that Matched out
the specific charges, laid before the
Council, is reported to be composed
of novices and greenhorns in the
matter Of sewer work. Be that as
t may, they have made specific
charges, and now they should be
called on to prove them.
Novices and greenhorns in any
kind Of business, are always more
likely to be wrong than right, and
hence call on the committee tol
prove its specific charges will end
in the collapse of the charges, and
in the confounding of the incuba-
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