San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-16

depicts the city as in q state of
chronic bankruptcy, and in proof
Of this position, we have the fact
that the city employees are nearly
three months without their pay.
On the other hand the returns from
the city collectors office indicate
a state OF prosperity not enjoyed
for years.
Last week the books of the city
collectors office show that the COL
lections from the lst OF June this
year reached the 100000 mark
five months and a half Of the fiscal
year 1894.
This great sum, drawn from the
unwilling CD taxpayers, breaks the
record Of any similar period in the
history Of the city.
Four hundred thousand dollars !!
Will Mr.. Herff, the city treasurer,
explain If he has received it? II
30 large a sum has been poured in
to the city treasury by the tax
payers, why do the city wage
earners go unpaid? Maybe the
city collector has not turned it
over, or there must have been
leak big enough for the vice-mayor
and chairman Of the finance COM
mittee to fall through.
Will the chairman of the finance
committee please revise his figures
given to the Express and see
where his $4,000 per month has
gone?
For theI entire fiscal year of 49,
'94 only $4,000 were collected,
and now in half the period $780, 900
has been turned in. A fact that
contradicts the assertion that San
Antonio is bankrupt or that our
citizens are unpatrotic. 1t is also
to the credit of the regular collec-
ton department that this splendid
result has been reached.
There remains to be collected on
the tax rolls for 1895 less than
100000. There are assessments to
a considerable amount as well as
occupation taxes that are not col
lectable, 80 that we can only rely
upon the receipt of a portion of
the remaining 100000. Then
what, if it is fact that we have no
money on hand to pay off city en-
ployes?
The burden OF municipal COM
plant, of which our distinguished
chairman of the city finance COM
mittee is aware, is that we have an
immense sum Of 100000 still due
as back taxes. Is this 80, or is it
fiction that no business man would
seriously entertain?
A careful estimate OF the city's
assets will disclose the fact that
only about $235,000, including '94,
is collectable upon back taxes.
Then what are we building our
hopes upon?
1t must be remembered thatsthe
100000 received from the collector
is the contribution from the peck
cts of the taxpayers and does not
include the 100000 realized by the
sale Of bonds voted to put the city
upon a cash basis. Have not our
people been liberal? Have they not
shown their confidence and their
willingness to meet the heavy bur-
den of the city government
|
We only hear the complaint, we
never hear the praise. The whole
city government served to be in a
gigantic struggle with the taXpay-
ers to compel them to pay up their
taxes. Our worthy city attorney,
backed by a recent decision, glee-
fully informs the city council that
either we will collect the taxes or
the city will become bloated land
holder, and go extensively into the
real estate business.
Many a poor homestead owner
has lain awake at night to plan
some way to prevent his wife and
children from being turned bodily
into the street, shelterless, while the
city moves in as the owner.
The theory upon which all gov
ernments are established, is not
that of speculation, but for the
common good, in which all bear an