San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-09

When the intelligent public come to
read the proceedings of the last meeting
of the City Council, they will conclude
that either the Council is becoming
helpless.
A matter Of so much Importance as the
investigation of the Brand business, I'M
der charges made by Alderman Mackey,
is switched off with personal fight be-
tween Brand and Mackev, because Brand
makes charges against Mackey.
MIR. Brand deliberately tells the City
Council that il they want to investigate
him they must come to his office, room
19), that his books are too heavy to tote
down the elevator to the council room.
And the Coucil surrendered to Mr..
Brands dictatiOn.
In the meanwhile Brand has made
charges against Alderman Mackey aCOut
being interested in a gravel contract.
There is no telling where this investiga-
tion will end, once begun.
Our Mayor and City Council are bust
ness men; If the provision prohibiting
them from being directly or indirectly
interested in any work, business or con-
tract, the expense, price or consideration
OF Wnlcn Is pau iTou IuG CiIy iSaSut ~
can be construed to include the business
firms to which they belong, then they
had better resign.
Mr.. Brand has opened fight on Alder
man Mackey that will reach great deal
further than he intended. The City Coun-
Gil wants to right itself quick and take
the Brand business promptly by the back
of the neck and slack of the pants ald
throw it out of the city hall
1t was very evident that Mayor Elmen.
dorf was absent from the Council yeSter-
day. His presence was needed. The re-
port of the finance committee in which
they say: I'VE find that the collectors
are not doing anything and that perhaps
it would be good idea for them to go out
and collect the occupation tax deserved
attention.
Are 1.-The collectors" doing nothing?
And why? If the collectors are doing
nothing, who is?
The city has one tax colector-the peO-
pie have just elected him. 1t is true, the
City Council has farmeG out the tax col
lecting to an outside party, but the colec-
tor elected by the peoples supposed to be
en- hand to receive the money and give the
tax payers their receipts. III he should
go out to collect occupation tax, Mr..
Brand should be empowered TO pocket the
money until the collector opens his office
upon his return from collecting tours
over the town.
II the collectors" are idle, what is the
sense of the city paying per cent com
mission to an outside party to do It's COL
Letting?
What business has Brand with the last
tax rolls without a contract
What business has the city attempting
to collect taxes except by ordinance as re-
Qlired by the city charter?
A visit to the city collectors office will
convince any tax payer that the pains
taking, hard working men in that depart
ment are not only well engaged but that
their business is done In first class man
ner.
The proposition TO .emplOy two assist
ants to look after the occupation taxes,
was the matter reported on by the COM
mittee. Thousands of dollars are lost
yearly by failure TO collect these taxes,
which can only be done by personal SER
vice. The committee want the collector
to shut up his Office and run over town
after the occupation taxes.
Mayor Elmendorf must bring his clear
business sense into requiSitOn. His pres
ence is needed at even a meeting of our
business mems City Council.
"