San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-26
GAFFS AND SLASHERS.

the Fredericksburg convention
will CLEAN neither honor, profit
nor recognition for their labors.
The crack of the political whip has
lost its terrors, and republicans OF
the Twelfth district have ceased to
obey bosses or worship idols,
whether black or white, imported
or domestic.
Mr.. Bart Crowther is credited
with carrying big knife up his
sleeve" keenly whetted, with
which in the near future he pro-
poses to carve some of his erst-
while "dear friends who lied to
him." II the report be true,
there'll be music in the air, for
Bart handles a cleaver as dex-
terously as a Cuban patriot does
the deadly machete.
Our politicians should agree
upon friendly suit, to be brought
in the United States, and test the
question whether the Mexican In
dams in our midst really have the
right to vote and whether they are
clothed with the rights OF Ameri-
can citizenship. Many eminent
lawyers assume the negative side
Of the proposition.
A strong argument for govern
ment ownership of railways Is
contained In a report to the state
department by United States Com
mercial Agent Moore, at Weimar,
upon the Prussian railroad system.
He shows that last year the gross
receipts from these railways we're
1914, 467, IVA, or more than one-half
of the entire revenues Of the state.
The net earnings, deducting $685..
240, 600 interest on working capital
and sinking fund, we're $51, 051, 900
which will be turned into the
treasury for the use of the state.
The sum is larger than the in
come derived from the taxes of all
kinds.
In adopting measures to secure
an honest construction OF the
sewers, upon the lines laid down
in the plans and specifications, the
taxpayers who interested them
selves in the matter should not
ignore the necessity of taking
proper steps to thoroughly in
vestigste and test that portion OF
the work already passed upon as
completed. Charges of inferior
work and defective material stand
unchallenged and uncontradicted.
Now is the time to determine
whether they are true or false. 1t
will be too late, after the contract
has been completed, and the Con-
tractors have hied to other fields.
Will some one rise and explain
what the "back tax collector" Is
doing to earn his $4,000 salary?
Has he directly or indirec tly been
the means of enforcing the collec-
ton OF one dollar OF back taxes, in
consideration of the $4,000 or $4,000
of salary, fees and perquisites he
has drawn from the public treas
ury? II so, the public should be
made acquainted with the fact
without loss Of time.
The house committee has agreed
to report fsvorably bill to abolish
the fee system as applied to,
United States marshals, attorneys
and commissioners and establish
in lieu thereof stated salaries. The
states should hasten to follow the
example, and make every public
office a salaried one, covering
whatever fees accrue into the
public treasury. Here in Bexar
county, and in numerous other
populous counties in Texas, moth
ing would contribute so much to a
publication OF local politics and
put an end to the disgraceful de-
bauchery and corruption OF the
venal voters in our midst, as the
| abolishment Of the present fee
system Of paying public officials.
The suggestion that Hon. John
A. O'Connor will possibly be the
next convert knocking for admis-
sion into the inner circles OF the
republican temple, is too good to
be true. Mr.. O'Connor is "joined
to his idols" and will In all proba-
bility lead the congressional for
lorn hope OF the populists In the
coming election.
The street car company has
adopted one metropolitan feature,
the breach of which the public
unnld mora fnllU annraciatA than