San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-17

h1mSelf, ana as an 0fncer, agent or
employe Of the city contract with
himself in any business Of the city.
at does not mean, in my opinion,
to prohibit an agent Of the city
from purchasing from an officer OF
the city, in the open market, such
articles Of necessity as the city
may daily require. Such a con-
struction, in my judgment, would
often act disastrously to the best
interest Of the city.
Following to natural conclu-
sion the construction given by the
city attorney would prevent any
one having business with the city
from becoming member Of the
city council. 1t would in effect
say to the business element OF our
city that the city may require
some article of merchandise that
they have in stock, but being an
alderman Of the city, it cannot be
purchased from them, even though
such article may not be found in
any other mercantile establish
ment in the city.
"It would mean that no men en-.
gagged in the banking business and
no stakeholder of said banking
house could become a member Of
the city council, because the city
may become compelled to borrow
money, to buy exchange, to pay
drafts and to make deposits.
at would mean that no stock.
holder of an insurance company
would desire to become a mem Der
of the city council, because the city
could not insure with the company
they were indirectly interested in
as stockholders and such insurance
would 60 to foreign companies.
"The jeweler would be debarred,
because the city may have a clock
to repair.
GAIL stockholders and officers Of
and business corpora
tions would be 10th to accept posi-
tions under the city, for fear of
with their business inter-
ests.
ga stakeholder or owner OF a
could not become an Of
GER Of the city, because the city
could not subscribe for the paper in
which said stakeholder was inter-
ested.
"Your city treasurer, if he hap
pened to be an employe or stock
holder Of bank, could not make
his deposits in the bank he was
by or stakeholder in.
"And so, without enumerating
it would have the effect of
barring all property interests from
a voice in the manage
nent of city affairs or from hold
ng an Office within the city. It'll
night be said, however, that when
,ne becomes an officer of the city
le must make such business sacri-
ices.
"It Is sufficient answer to say
hat the Office of alderman is one
Utmost without compensation, ex-
remedy laborious, fraught with
difficulties, and such officer is COM
)elled to make enough pecuniary
'acrifice without injuring his own
business or business in which
ne may be Indirectly interested !;
Ind rather than make additional
would prefer not to hold
my Office In the city.
ut is to the interest Of all cities
70 have its business men take an
interest in it's affairs and to have a
voice in its management and il
narrow constructions of the city
charter are to prevail, precluding
such interest from participating
IN the concerns Of our city, when
more liberal and reasonable con-
struction could be given and much
greater benefit to this city, l pre-
fer the latter construction, believ-
ing 1t to be right, JUST and proper,
and to the best interest of all
classes of our citizens"
On vote this was laid over I'M
til next meeting.
The aldermen consumed over
one-half hour in discussing this
veto, and the constructions of the
''open market" meaning. Mr..
city attorney, said pur-
chase OF any kind was contract,
in open market or other
wise.
Mr.. Robards presented Mr.. VIM.
opinion to the same eff
feet.
The sanitary police reported on
of the foul condition OF
the San Pedro creek that they had
found the creek to be in a very
foul condition and ascribed the
cause to the Union slaughter
house. Referred to committee.