San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-02-26

mended generally by the people.
The tribute paid to the memory
of the late Mayor Paschal is hand.
sOmely done, and reminds the peo-
pie of the mission of the present
administration.
The financial suggestion is inn
pOrtant, and seems to be a plain
way to relieve the city from its
| present financial distress; but this
| requires an amendment to the
charter that may fail because of an
early adjournment of the Eegisla-
| ture.
Should the charter revision ma
terialiZe, an amendment might he
secured that would remedy the
| present unbusiness like require
ments governing the city treasury.
There is no sense in the city bor-
rowing money for current eXpenses,
with treasury full OF special funds
that remain unused for months or
years, thus enabling the bank hav.
ing the deposits to loan the city it's
own funds at interest. Some such
provision as exists in the county
would relieve the temporary de-
mands of the city to await the re-
ceipts from taxation.
The suggestion to erect the Re-
corder's court into a court Of
record, with jurisdiction up to
cases Of felony, should be done.
The city maintains an expensive
detective force, whose sole business
is to detect crime against the
state; for this the city receives no
compensation. BY making the Re-
corder's court Police court with
Jurisdiction over misdemeanors,
with the fees allowed for arrests,
service Of writs, and convictions,
the expense Of the detective de-
lpartment and the court could be
provided for without much outlay
by the city.
| AS to taxation the mayor asserts
that the rate Of taxation need not
be raised to meet the expenditures.
This will be pleasant information
to our taxpayers.
|
| The public school deficit is at
tributed to the default OF the state,
and the mayor suggests that even
this stringency could be relieved
if taxpayers were prompt in the
pay ment Of their taxes.
| The review of the departments,
their efficiency, etc, is tlattering
showing for the administration.
Under the head Of new business,
the charter revision is touched
upon. The suggestion OF legisla-
ton favoring manufactures, is
capital idea, only that the city at
| tempted this once before to find
constitutional obstacle in the way.
The two new market houses as well
as a slaughter house are measures
Of Importance, and deserve atten-
| ton; in fact these enterprises are
about the only ones possible for the
next two years until our streets
have been severed.
Following the Mayors message
the resolution of Mr.. RObard's to
revise the salary list, recalls the
well-intentioned effort made by
Mayor PasChal, which proved a
failure. The machinery OF our city
government has been the growth
Of years. has enlarged with our
| population, and while it would an
swer for city of twice our pOpula-
ton, it is question il less SER
vice at a cheaper figure would do
for the present city government.
The largest increase of eXpendi-
| ture for the official list has been in
the executive departments; en-
pigments have been added and
salaries increased. The question is
can we cut down the clerical force,
the police force, the fire department,
and do away with the market in
spection.
The looping off of two or three
empIoyments would be but poor
effort at economy. The reduction
of salaries, unless begun at the top,
would be but a hardship to the
minor employees or officials.
DUNLAP HATS,
Spring styles, 1895. Opening day
March l. 2-26.4t f. c. ARNOLD.