San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-03

Natinal bank, for its unprecedented
liberality and unselfish generosity
in voluntarily permitting a suffi-
cheney of the city's revenues to be
applied to the payment of one OF
the four or five months salaries of
the city's employees. The unset.
fishness OF the act will be the bet
ter appreciated when it Is under
stood that the bank at one time
held a doubtful claim against the
city for $50, all of which has
been liquidated but $1,000. The
bank meanwhile, however, has had
and now has on deposit some $780,
600 Of the city's sewer fund, upon
which it does not pay the city
penny's interest.
The sewer contractors display an
unwonted modesty and dif1idence
in presenting their claim against
the city for alleged damages to the
amount of $4,000 or $4,000. Most
probably they will withhold it I'M
til after they are awarded the con-
tract to build the outlet. The pub
lie can draw their own conclusions.
A modern minister in Chicago
has adopted the circus method of
advertising, and in lieu Of a simple
announcement in the daily papers,
plasters the vacant walls and bill
boards with flaming colored posters
and highly wrought Autographs to
attract audiences. Mention is sim.
ply made Of the fact for the benefit
of Parson Craig. IL is pointer
which he is free to accept and for
which no charge is made.
The question of whether the peo-
Pile or the street car company of
Mr.. w. III. Weiss own the public
thoroughfares of San Antonio, is
still mooted question. But as
Mr.. Weiss has possession, which is
regarded as "nine points in law"
IL is doubtless matter of indiffer-
ence to his lordship whether the
question is settled or not in the
dim heuceforth.
Very few people are clamoring
for "reform" ticket. The term
has become a reproach in this
community, and no man will
ever be again deceived by it.
What is desired, what is demand
ed, is clear, impersonal cam
paign on strictly party lines sand
the lines cannot be too rigidly
drawn. There is a widespread ex-
preston in favor of honest politics
in future, if such desideratum
can be evolved from the labyrinth
of Bexar rings.
In the event the democracy Of
this district should rape Hon. Per-
ry j. Lewis with the congressional
nomination, could Hon. A. w.
Houston be relied on to play
Damon to Mr.. Lewis's Pythias? 1t
would be a graceful return upon
Mr.. Houston's part of a similar
but unsuccessful sacrifice per-
formed for him by Mr.. Lewis in
'94.
The people are awaiting with
not little interest the final shap-
ing up of the different political
combinations. Will the Big Chiefs
bury the Ratchet, or will they d.
vide and lead contending factions?
Perhaps, when the matter is detin-
itely determined, the people-the
real citIzens-may decide to take
hand, in which event the result
could be easily foreshadowed. "Vox
populi, vox DEL"
A determined effort is being
made in Bexar county to trans
plant and perpetuate one Of
Britain's most obnoxious claims
"once a citizen always Citizen"
The only difference is that it is,
"ouce an officeholder, forever after.
ward an office holder"
When the merchants, business
men and citizens Of San Antonio,
who do not rely on politics and
public office as a means of livli-
hood, arouse themselves and take
a personal interest in public affairs,
they can look for better govern
ment, more substantial improve
ment and lower tax rates,
Houston has organized a Good
Government club. San Antonio's
once boasted such an organization,
but the membership appears to