San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-12
WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE.

AS Injury decis hoo aio ooWci
contract on the 18th Of January,
and as it is charged that the Mayor
was aware OF such assignment
from the time Of it's execution, the
public is bothered at the non action
OF the council Tor very near six
months.
The sewer work has been in
most anomalous condition, "drag-
ging its slow length along, like a
wounded snake" in the midst OF
mystery, uncertainty, and con-
fusion, greatly to the dissatisfac-
ton of the public and to the DAM
age of the city administration.
More than three months ago,
Contributed Scraps" with the
most friendly feelings towards the
city administration, pointedly
called the attention Of the council
to the most anomalous condition
of the sewer contract, and to the
current report that Hindry had as
signed his contract and washed his
hands of the whole business.
This column, influenced by the
most friendly feelings towards the
city government, urged 1t to act
with promptness and vigor in the
matter by declaring that Hindry
had forfeited his contract and by
refusing to ratify the alleged trans
fer of the contract by him.
The council maintained unbrok-
en- silence and torpidity for nearly
six months. 1t did literally
nothing respecting the sewer con-
tract. 1t would not touch the mat
ter.
1t allowed work to be begun on
the sewers by the parties to whom
Hindry had assigned his contract,
well knowing that neither Hindry
nor his assignees had executed q
local bond for the faithful per-
Torrance of the contract, and could
abandon the contract at their
pleasure.
This policy of unbroken silence,
profound mystery and persistent
non action by the city government,
has astonished, mystified, disap-
pointed and Disguised the people.
This course vas Unaccountable,
singular, mysterious and unwise.
No light has been thrown on it by
the city government; nor any ex-
PLANTATION, or excuse vouchsafed.
So singular and unaccountable
a policy OF silence and non action
could not avoid arousing suspicion
distrust in the minds of the people.
The truth is such policy provoked
as well as justified suspicion and
distrust.
So very strange and unaccount-
able policy Of uEbroken silence,
shrouded mystery and indefatig-
able non action, was bound to have
been prompted by q motive of
some sort. AS it was not natural,
under the circumstances, nor re-
spectful to the people, it was bound
to have arisen from Q motive.
Work on the sewers, instead of
being carried on vigorously and
earnestly, as it was expected to be,
amounted only to puddering and
make-believe. The object seems to
be to keep up show of work, and
yet to accomplish just as little as
possible.
II it be true, as it mas been re-
peatedly and publicly alleged, that
the mayor and several OF the alder
men have been cognizant OF the
transfer OF the contract by Hindry,
ever since January II, naturally,
the question arises as to their mo-
tive for suppressing the fact of
such transfer and allowing the
work on the sewers to assume the
shape of puddering and make
believe.
What was the motive? What
could have been the motive? The
disclosure Of the contract five
months ago, could not, possibly
have resulted in damage, or lost
to the city, or to the city admins
tration. What, then, was the mo-
tive? CONTRIBUTED SCRAPS.
A PIONEERS RECOMMENDATION.
Mr.. j. w. Venable, Of Downey, a