San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-12

Will They Never stop.
To the DAILY LIGHT:
In last weeks papers OF this
city we find the announcement
that Mr.. Huston, assistant city
attorney, has himself an assistant,
paid by the city.
1t is beyond dispute that our
city administration is every day
increasing our city expenses.
Just as soon as city officer is
installed, he seems to spread out
and at once finds the office so full
OF duties that he must have two
or three clerks or assistants to
help him; no not to help him, but
to perform the duties of the office;
and in due season these clerks or
assistants must have assistants,
as in the case of Mr.. Huston.
Our city tax collector, at a sea-
son of busy tax collections Is
around the country carrying on a
heavy &? law practice, whilst his
office is run by assistants. Our
city auditor has one or more
deputies or assistants. Perhaps
this case more fully, than any
other, emphasizes our contention.
An auditor is a judge, his duty
is TO pass judicialiy upon claims
against the city,--snd approve or
reject. Just for the moment think,
OF deputy or assistant judge, or
a deputy or assistant justice of the
peace! For all these things there
is practical remedy. Here IL is:
Just as soon as a Mr.. City Attor.
ney Mr.. Auditor, Mr.. Assessor of
taxes, Mr.. Collector Of taxes, Mr..
City Clerk, Mr.. Garbage-cart
driver or Mr.. Any other city
officer, declares that he must have
assistants or clerks to help him to
carry out the duties (smalD of his
office, let the board OF aldermen
invite him to resign; and il he
refuses and further refuses to per-
form. the duties of his office, i'm
peach and remove him and fill his
place.
1t is the unmistakble duty Of
our city administration to move
and to move at once in the direc-
ton of retrenchment.
Our city is going backward each
day, our city tax, our state and
county tax and insurance and
water rates, all together, place
every piece of real estate in this
city under a mortgage for its full
value, bearing four per cent inter-
est annually. No people or city
can carry this weight. Other
cities in this state q or b carry as
great a city tax, but their state
and county tax is small, not half
of ours. With county court
piling on taxes and selling bonds
every change Of the moon, some
thing must crash. Our property
has been raised in assessable value
both by the county and city ad-
ministrations, to fifty per cent
above it's actual value, in order to
float bonds. Yes it is bonds, bonds
and bonds. Bankruptcy stares us
fully in the face. Soon the cry
must come, in fact ii is here now,
we must surrender our city
charter and 60 back to county
government.
Let our board of aldermen take
up and read the city charter in
connection with a list of city
officers, clerks and assistants; and
then cut off every officer, clerk or
assistant, not named in the char
ter. Next cut the police depart
ment in two and discharge one
half; as also the fire department..
Dismiss in whole the street COM
missioner and all his crowd; pull
down one-third all the employees
in the school department; cut
down city water and light(and
make use OF the power given them
to regulate the charges for these
two items) 10 one half, have but
one meeting of the city council per
month, and then let it be without
pay. This would perhaps save us I;
this would be retrenchment. Ii
they will not do that, abolish the
charter or have a receiver appoint
ed, no private corporation would
ever be allowed to continue in
business, in the manner San An
tonic is sufferd to do. NOFOOL.
NOTICE.